All Questions
6
votes
0answers
321 views
“courgettes” vs. “zucchini” under a historical perspective
In this TimLymington's answer it is said:
Interestingly, there is another vegetable with the same identity problem; what the British call courgettes and the Americans zucchini.
What is the ...
3
votes
0answers
43 views
Is “qo” a step in the evolution of the question mark?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Question_mark
According to the wikipedia article I've linked to above, "qo" was sometimes used in the middle ages to abbreviate the latin word "questio" in the way that we ...
3
votes
0answers
91 views
British spelling of programme and diagram
Does anyone know a reason why British English retains the -amme ending for programme but not for diagram? They both have French origins.
Programme
... Spelling programme, established in Britain, ...
3
votes
0answers
89 views
Achievement Verbs with the Progressive Aspect
I was reading a grammar and saw this.
Achievement verbs describe actions that occur instantaeously.
He solved the problem.
He spotted the airplane.
These verbs fall into two classes - one is ...
3
votes
0answers
166 views
Un-(adjective) but In-(noun) — does it ever go the other way?
Many pairs of words use un- as a prefix for the preferred adjective but in- as a prefix for the preferred noun (e.g. unstable/instability, unequal/inequality, unable/inability, unjust/injustice, ...
2
votes
0answers
31 views
Non-finite clause complementation of complex transitive verbs
This question has been bothering me for a while. It came up when I was reading Chapter 16 of "A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language."
How to explain the grammatical structure of the ...
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
0answers
144 views
Are compound contractions proper grammar?
I've been told that compound contractions like couldn't've and I'd've are proper grammar. Are they?
1
vote
0answers
38 views
asking a question with “have”
The context is that a doctor is asking about somebody's child's symptoms of influenza.
Is this question correct: What symptoms has Anne? If it's incorrect, then why?
It looks strange to me, I would ...
1
vote
0answers
57 views
What does 'trout-shouldered' mean?
In an episode of the television show Archer one character refers to another as being "trout-shouldered."
“This pathetic, trout-shouldered excuse for a boom operator is Chet Manly."
What might this ...
1
vote
0answers
24 views
How to reply to a status update for a job application?
I received an email today telling me that I will be notified about next steps for my job application by mid next week. I want to be polite and respond something brief, but since I'm not a native ...
1
vote
0answers
40 views
Programming terminology difficulty
I'm programming a simple tile-based game (a game that is built up on the concept of squares for collision detection and map design). You can come in contact with a tile and you can collide with a ...
1
vote
0answers
53 views
grammatical questions about verbal
Following sentences need to be parsed:
I see a boy running towards you.
I tell you to go home.
What's the sentence pattern these two sentences apply? I think it is ...
1
vote
0answers
77 views
“Got Notifications” vs. “Received Notifications”
For some reason the phrase "Got Notifications" seems rough. "Received Notifications" sounds a bit more natural.
Is there something wrong with the phrase "Got Notifications"? Is there a principle ...
1
vote
0answers
121 views
What does the expression 'justified for him his own idea' mean?
I am reading a novel, and I did not understand one of the sentences in it. Following are two lines from the novel. The author is talking about a guy called Paul and her father.
They were once ...
1
vote
0answers
102 views
Origin of plurals and possessives
What is the origin of English plurals and possessives? English plurals look more French plurals, but I am not sure that is where they come from. As for possessives, I don't know where they come from.
0
votes
0answers
13 views
How to separate two phrases in a grammatically correct way?
In all stackexchange sites, there is an edit summary field provided when you try to edit a question or an answer. I find myself frequently writing there the following:
"edited title, added a tag"
or
...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
How to use quotes in a list with commas
This is a sentence that I wrote:
In the text, words such as greenbacks, ironclads, and blockade were used.
However, I think there should be quotations around the words, however, how would I place ...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
Is it right to use comma before “here”?
Members of parliament can criticize other members, here.
Note the comma after members and before here.
In this particular case, is it okay? Or should the comma not be there?
0
votes
0answers
52 views
What does “though” mean in these sentences?
I knew these are American English sentences, and they are informal. However, I would like to know what exactly it means, or it simply means nothing, and people merely want to add something unnecessary ...
0
votes
0answers
52 views
Utilise or Utilize
I am writing in UK English and would like to confirm that we use utilise instead of utilize. I cannot seem to find a answer for this online.
0
votes
0answers
31 views
Would like a specific word that describes a feeling or thought
I have a friend I have not seen for some time. We email quite often. I share a lot of funny stuff that cracks him up.
Here is my problem: This is strictly platonic, but we want to see each other ...
0
votes
0answers
48 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 ...
0
votes
0answers
71 views
What does 'What kind of mischief are you up to?' mean?
One of my US users asked the following questions when she got information about my resignation from my manager.
What is this rumor I hear? What kind of mischief are you up to?
I am not sure ...
0
votes
0answers
73 views
pronunciation US-UK in words like semi
I am trying to find a document that explains pronunciation differences en /E/ and /I/ sounds between UK and US styles. I think US pronunciation does a lot /'sɛmay/ than UK /'sɛmi/. Where can I find an ...
0
votes
0answers
55 views
Why is imperialism not spelled empirialism?
If the goal of imperialism is to create an empire, why is the word not spelled "empirialism"?
0
votes
0answers
51 views
simple present or past in describing an event shown in a series of pictures
I'm correcting my 7th graders' writing assignment in which they're given three pictures of a fat boy who decides to go on a diet and finally becomes thinner. I've been told that using present simple ...
0
votes
0answers
49 views
What should I do when two clauses that must be in parenthesis sit next to each other in my sentence?
I'm writing my thesis dissertation and in the results section I'm showing my results with this sentence:
A small correlation between hit position and time was found for SS2 ($r=-0.143, ...
0
votes
0answers
32 views
Savings and Costs Verb Treatment
So this has been bothering me for a while in the technical reports that I have been working on. I frequently come across these two sentences:
The energy savings, ES, are estimated to be $100.
and
...
0
votes
0answers
52 views
How do you express a natural habit of a species?
I am curious to know about the plural/singular form of addressing a species. For example, which expression is correct or more appropriate:
Lion does not eat wolf
Lions do not eat wolves
Or ...
0
votes
0answers
67 views
“Instructions on” vs. “instructions for”
Which of the following is correct?
Instructions on how to do this will be provided in the User Manual.
Instructions for how to do this will be provided in the User Manual.
0
votes
0answers
105 views
Reform of English writing?
As is commonly known, English is quite notorious for having a writing system that is far removed from the actual way it is most commonly pronounced. I understand that there are important historical ...
0
votes
0answers
106 views
What part of speech is “that” in each of the following sentences that mean the same?
It was all planned well before today that I can be sure about.
Here I believe that that is subordinating conjunction.
It was all planned well before today; I can be sure about that.
Here I ...
0
votes
0answers
66 views
Difference between “needed” and “necessary”
What is the difference between those two words?
Example sentence: "this can greatly reduce the needed | necessary effort". I found some posts saying that necessary is more urgent?! Are there more ...
0
votes
0answers
94 views
Tense after 'before'
Could you tell me why the tense of the verb after 'before' here is in past, while "I'm" is present?
I never ast for no fill. I never ast to come at all. I'm here before I knew this here was here.
...
0
votes
0answers
107 views
To Whom It May Concern, what's the best way to address a group?
I write emails to groups of individuals from time to time, and when I don't/can't address anyone in particular, I will begin the letter with
To Whom It May Concern,
Is this the best way to ...
0
votes
0answers
105 views
A majority of those whose family or families
Is "family" both plural and singular? or would I have to say families for the plural form. for example, which of these is the best option:
"A majority of those whose family were unaware of their ...
0
votes
0answers
37 views
the placement of prepositions in phrasal verbs
In England today, "put your coat on" and "put on your coat" are in free variation. But was there an original dialectal difference in the placement of the preposition, and if so, which areas said ...
0
votes
0answers
31 views
Referring to two past instances
Please examine the sentences I have written below:
ref(1)....
ref(2)...
Vide reference(1) above, Headoffice has circulated a letter. Vide reference (2) above, my office was circulated the same ...
0
votes
0answers
58 views
Capturing a special “moment when…”
Which of these is most effective in capturing a specific moment, whether past, present, or future? Also, which is most concise?
that moment when it all comes together.
that moment it all comes ...
0
votes
0answers
133 views
Which is correct position to write subject in formal letter - before greeting or after greeting?
In most cases I see the heading is usually placed after the greeting (but before the body); but in some cases it is before the greeting. Which is the right way for formal letters?
0
votes
0answers
96 views
What are the possible part of speech combinations for compound nouns?
I am currently working through allowable part of speech combinations for the first two words of an English sentence. It seems troubling to me to allow the first two words of a sentence to both be ...
0
votes
0answers
26 views
“Interaction technologies” vs. “interactive technologies”
What is your feeling about the differences between the two?
0
votes
0answers
70 views
How to parse a sentence with verb 'bring'
“He brought the umbrella swishing down through the air to point at
Dudley.” (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)
I guess the sentence could be parsed as below:
[He] [brought] [A: the ...
0
votes
0answers
59 views
Is “develop” transitive in “technology developed by X”?
In the following phrase, is developed a transitive verb?
Technology developed by the XXX company.
-1
votes
0answers
27 views
British accent and idioms?
Is there a tutorial on how to learn British accent and idioms? I moved to new Zealand and i almost cant understand their english. I believe new Zealand uses oxford so i assume they uses British ...
-1
votes
0answers
21 views
Proper adjective to use with word 'chance' (low, small, slim, etc)
What is the proper adjective to use with word 'chance'? Can chance be low, small, slim ?
What would be your suggestion?
-1
votes
0answers
54 views
“Take you in the sky” vs. “bring you up to the sky” vs. “get you in the sky” — which one is correct?
If I have got a pilot licence, I will take you in the sky/bring you up to the sky/get you in the sky. Which one is correct?
-1
votes
0answers
62 views
Punctuations and “tumbles down the hill”
He jump but hardly reaches the stone and tumbles down the hill. He tries to catch some other edge or stone as he falls and catches a small hole with his two fingers in the left hand.
Something ...
-1
votes
0answers
78 views
Skipping the words 'you' and 'did' in spoken English
Do sentences 1 and 2 mean the same thing? Are they when speaking? If yes, is the first sentence also acceptable in written English?
1) Don't see anything?
2) Don't you see anything?
How about ...
