All Questions
0
votes
0answers
45 views
I am looking for a word that is the same as aspiration but it's done
For example if you wish to do or have something, you can use aspiration. What word is the best to use for things that you have and done already ? For example I was thinking about accomplishment but it ...
1
vote
3answers
47 views
what word means the thing you 'added'
What word means the thing(s) you 'added' to something?
(It's something like 'addium' or something latin-like! But I can't really remember)
I remember seeing it used in some context as follows.
You ...
0
votes
4answers
142 views
What is THE shortest English verb?
I have heard that two letter verbs are the shortest verbs in English. Is this totally true? Are any of the letters official recognized as verbs?
3
votes
3answers
46 views
Wording for threshold description (greater than or equal to)
I have a parameter for a program that is a threshold (T). I need to document it, and what I want its meaning to be is this:
If N >= T then Do Action
I don't want its meaning to be this:
If N > T ...
2
votes
0answers
51 views
origin of new meaning of whitewash
I recently came across "whitewash" used to refer to a (racist) practice of erasing visible minorities in film and advertising by making them appear more white (or even replacing them with white ...
2
votes
1answer
51 views
Is it ok if I start an opinion composition with the word 'Indeed'?
I was just wondering, is it's OK to begin an opinion composition with the word 'Indeed' in the first sentence? For example: Indeed I believe people's consumerism is one of the main causes for our ...
3
votes
3answers
118 views
Is “emptiest” a logically correct term?
There are some adjectives that are logical binaries.
e.g. empty (either the noun is empty or it isn't)
Can we apply a superlative degree to such adjectives?
e.g. This is the emptiest these roads will ...
1
vote
1answer
87 views
I can't make heads or tails out of this paragraph. It's a complex pun. (Warning: Mildly “bad language” and urban lingo))
Here it is:
It's your brother's MR. T PUPPET, which of course is kept in the apartment with a sense of profound humorous irony. But as usual with your BRO's exploits, this is no ordinary irony, or ...
3
votes
2answers
104 views
Why is it wrong to say this sentence 'I'm afraid I forgot my homework at home
Why is it wrong to say this sentence and what grammar rules are broken
1
vote
1answer
43 views
What does “consign” mean in this example?
I am reading the following definition of commit
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commit
1c. to consign or record for preservation. Example: commit it to memory
Now I am trying to ...
-1
votes
2answers
47 views
from and by differences [closed]
I have some questions.
"I'm tired from the hard work".
The function of this "from" is kind of reason, right?
What's the differences between from and by.
by is also changeable in this above sentence?
...
2
votes
3answers
67 views
Where does the phrase “fair do's/dues/doos/does” come from?
I was researching the phrase fair do's, attempting to determine which spelling was most appropriate, and where it had come from. Unfortunately most of the information I could find was very ...
0
votes
1answer
47 views
past tense of contrive [closed]
So I am looking up the meaning of 'contrive' in google using:
define contrive
And it says:
Verb
1. Create or bring about (an object or a situation) by deliberate use of skill and artifice.
2. ...
1
vote
2answers
35 views
Q: One of this and that vs One of this or that
I am wondering which is the proper way to say that one thing or the other is required.
Do we say:
"Only one of passport and national id is required."
or
"Only one of passport or national id is ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
Use of the phrase “it seems” vs. “it seems that”
On another stackexchange site, I used the following phrasing:
I want to do X. It seems I can only do so when Y.
Someone edited the second sentence:
It seems that I can only do so when Y.
...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
Singular or plural verb after “what”
Which sentence is more grammatically correct?
He is being tried on what look like trumped-up charges.
He is being tried on what looks like trumped-up charges.
2
votes
2answers
125 views
Eleusian vs. Eleusinian (and, to a lesser extent, Elysian)
Both Eleusian and Eleusinian are used in relation to mysteries. I've only seen Elysian used in relation to Elysian Fields.
Given that the suffix -ian denotes "of or belonging to," I'm wondering if ...
1
vote
2answers
82 views
Is there a word that means, “Group with a distinguished member?”
A group can be defined as (link):
a number of persons or things ranged or considered together as being related in some way.
Now suppose one of those persons is a distinguished member - like a ...
2
votes
2answers
71 views
frontend, what does frontend mean? [closed]
front means ahead, infront , forward
end means last point, finishing point,
but what does FRONTEND mean?
for example engineering design is clear to me, but "frontend engineering design" what exactly ...
0
votes
0answers
23 views
Doubts on relation - Father and Son [closed]
If I have a statement of the form George is the father of James, who is in fact the father of Thomas. Then how do I expand it ?
Is it that
James is the father of Thomas
Or
George is the father ...
-2
votes
0answers
35 views
Adjective following a verb [closed]
Which of these sentences is correct?
This music sounds great!
You look nice today.
You sing very good.
Which verbs can be followed by an adjective?
-1
votes
2answers
53 views
Could I use 'this' to introduce a person? [closed]
Which of the sentences below are correct?
This’s my best friend, William.
Those’re my classmates, James and Harry.
That’s my teacher, Mrs Wilson.
UPDATE: I just took an exam. The correct ...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
Origin of “Homeward ho!”
In the English translation of an essay by Leon Trotsky that came out in Foreign Affairs, I read [emphasis added]:
Now it turns out that the world exchange is the source of all
misfortunes and ...
-1
votes
0answers
35 views
“You have to make hay while the sun shines” — A proverb [closed]
"Make hay when the sun shines"
This proverb, as I understand it, is a good advice to prepare anything while we have the opportunity.
Nowadays it is easier to make hay while considering the forecast ...
1
vote
1answer
64 views
Which is correct? If I was or If I were for this particular sentence [duplicate]
Which is correct?
1) If I were a little taller, I would be able to reach the top of the shelf.
2) If I was a little taller, I would be able to reach the top of the shelf.
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Are modal verbs finite or non-finite?
According to Oxford Dictionaries Online,
a finite verb is a verb that has a specific tense, number and person and a non-finite verb is a verb that does not have a specific tense,
number and ...
-4
votes
0answers
42 views
Technical English [closed]
‘Technical English is not the part of technology’. Enumerate your own views in a coherent paragraph in 100-150 words. Please sir write a paragraph for me
-2
votes
0answers
26 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?
-1
votes
0answers
48 views
Difference between “ask” and “enquire”
Should I use ask or enquire, in the following sentence?
The young man enquired the direction to the hospital.
Is the following sentence better?
The young man asked the way to the hospital.
...
5
votes
2answers
108 views
How did the term “to favor” come to signify a limp? [closed]
Often in athletics, horse racing and when you encounter a person with an injured limb or other thing it will be said "He seems to be favoring his right leg" by which a person/commentator/etc means "He ...
2
votes
1answer
61 views
Job title + possessive case [duplicate]
Is the following construct (grammatically) correct?
Swiss mathematician and physicist Leonhard Euler's contribution to number theory was [...]
It sounds clumsy to me; however, this rewrite sounds ...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
Putting “my” in front of a verb [duplicate]
Tough to choose a title for this question. Here's my sentence:
"An outcome of this was my leading the development of a budget management plan."
OR
"An outcome of this was me leading the development ...
-1
votes
0answers
55 views
what word order is allowed in English sentences [closed]
I would like to receive comprehensive review of how to construct sentences (sentence patterns) in English language. Links to articles or books where this problem is discussed are appreciated.
0
votes
0answers
55 views
What does “I” really mean? [closed]
When we refer to a human being by "I"/"you"/"he"/"she"/"Mary", what do we really mean? The more I think about it, the more confused I get. Do we mean living body or emotional/psychological world or ...
3
votes
2answers
48 views
Singular noun objects of plural subjects
What is the rule for singular noun objects of plural subjects? For example I and google N-grams agree that
They gave their word.
is better than
They gave their words.
To my mind, this is ...
-1
votes
0answers
28 views
Belonging to a Company [closed]
Just checked out OED & Webster's online, I can't find the word "company's" - as in belonging to a corporation. Is there any reason for this?
0
votes
1answer
45 views
Parts of speech for “indoors” vs. “outdoors”
I'm trying to enter antonyms by part of speech into a database (for natural language processing) and have run into a problem with "indoors" vs "outdoors". One dictionary lists parts of speech for ...
-2
votes
1answer
92 views
Using “Thank you” and “Cheers” [duplicate]
Is it sensible to use both "Thank you" and "Cheers" in ending an email?
For example if I sign off.
Thank you, I am looking forward to receiving your response.
Cheers,
(insert name here)
...
-1
votes
0answers
29 views
“Across the top” vs. “on the top” [closed]
Which one of the following sentences is correct?
Command buttons across the top of the screen are common to all screens.
Command buttons on the top of the screen are common in all screens.
...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
(a) part of something [duplicate]
I've been puzzled about the usage of "part" as an uncountable noun. It often seems to me that there is no difference in meaning between its countable and uncountable form. Is there any difference in ...
-2
votes
0answers
31 views
“Nowadays” in reported speech — convert to “these days” or “those days”? [closed]
I can't convert a sentence that contains nowadays to reported speech. Some websites say that it should be turned into "these days", while others say it should be "those days". Which is the correct ...
1
vote
1answer
54 views
Reverse deadline?
Is there a term or word for a "reverse deadline"? Deadline is normally the date or time before which something must occur. I'm seeking a term for the date or time after which something may occur.
I ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
use of phrasal verb “reach out” meaning to contact someone [closed]
This morning when I was writing a note I've got myself in doubt about using the reach out phrasal verb. My intention is to tell a person that I tried to reach him out, but, this is the doubt. What is ...
2
votes
1answer
58 views
Apart from + infinitive
A piece of news from the BBC reads as follows [emphasis in the original]:
The UN has said very little on the matter, apart from to insist it
is immune from legal proceedings.
Now, I knew that ...
3
votes
2answers
45 views
Direct to Reported Speech - a scenario of ambiguity [duplicate]
The question is:
How would one convert
He said, "My name is Harry"
to reported speech?
Rules do say that the converted sentence reads
He said that his name was Harry.
The factor causing ...
1
vote
1answer
68 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 ...
8
votes
2answers
128 views
Dare + have done
Here is an example from an old book. I know it’s old but it can’t be simply discarded, I hope.
"I never dare have spoken — never dare have told you that my love for you was killing me"
So, I ...
-1
votes
2answers
75 views
“Pace” vs. “speed”
Is there a difference between "pace" and "speed"? I have a feeling that with "speed" we usually specify the actual value, while with "pace" we talk more relatively. Am I right?
1
vote
2answers
48 views
Comma usage in a letter opening [duplicate]
My colleague and I disagree on how to open a letter; he believes you should separate the salutation from the name, like so:
"Hi, John"
I think this is nonsense and that the comma should go at the ...
1
vote
1answer
64 views
Is it correct to say “I would like to inquire about something?”
When I make a call to get some information regarding a matter, I generally start the conversation with "Hello, I would like to inquire about something."
Is this a correct usage? If not, what would be ...
