Linked Questions

7 votes
1 answer
636 views

What is the history of the Indian English usage of "doubt" to mean "question"?

I've observed a significant number of questions on SO & SE, presumably written by folks use Indian English, in which the word "doubt" is used where "question" should have been used. The sentences ...
12 votes
3 answers
4k views

What is the origin of the idiom "I did her"?

I've been watching a TV show called Two and a Half Men and there's a part where Allan says to Charlie: Why what'd you do? and Charlie replies I did Rose. I've researched this and found that the ...
4 votes
1 answer
2k views

What are the differences between Indian English and other (native) varieties?

From my observation, I can identify some differences. Indian speakers use some Hindi words which are not found among native speakers. Indian speakers pronounce 'w' and 'v' interchangeably. Indian ...
46 votes
8 answers
28k views

What is wrong in "Please don't pluck the flowers" and other phrases used in the Indian subcontinent?

In the Indian subcontinent, especially India, there are many English words or phrases which are not a part of dictionary or not used in other parts of the world. The first one is "Please don't pluck ...
0 votes
1 answer
188 views

Can "doubt" be used as a synonym of "question"? [duplicate]

In several stackexchange areas, I have seen posts like this, where database design is just for the sake of example. I have a doubt concerning database design. Where I would have said I have ...
4 votes
2 answers
303 views

Indefinite article confusion preceding "one-to-one" [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: When should I use “a” vs “an”? While I was reading a book, I faced the following sentence: There is a one-to-one correspondence between the two sets ...
5 votes
2 answers
297 views

Can I use contractions on multiple nouns like this?

Can I use contractions when I want to apply them to multiple nouns? I want to say this: Sally and I will go to the beach. Can I say this? Sally and I'll go to the beach.
0 votes
3 answers
2k views

What is the difference between "I have a doubt with ...." & "I suspect there is a problem"? [duplicate]

In Indian English, it is widely used as "I have a doubt with .....". While in America English, it is used as "I suspect there is a problem with...". What is the conceptual difference between these ...
22 votes
4 answers
14k views

'Questions' vs. 'Concerns' vs. 'Doubts'

This is a region-specific question--Indian English I have noticed when working with colleagues from India that they use the word 'doubts' where the typical American would use the word 'questions' or '...
29 votes
2 answers
8k views

Indian English: What usage is allowed for "doubt" (meaning "question")?

I have a doubt about having a doubt. I learned from this question that in Indian English the word doubt is used to mean question, that is, as a countable noun. If my understanding is correct, the ...
20 votes
1 answer
8k views

What article do we use before a symbol? Is it "an @" or "a @"?

I got a question when reading this text: The name of the decorator should be prepended with an @ symbol. Should we write "a @ symbol" or "an @ symbol"? As "@" is in fact "at", I would think "an" ...
2 votes
2 answers
480 views

Leaving the "been" out of the present perfect

I work (in the UK) with someone who habitually leaves the "been" out of the present perfect (or so it seems to me), using phrases like "Has an appointment created?" or "If an appointment has created......
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

What is the plural form of "doubt"? [closed]

"If you have any doubt", let me know." "If you have any doubts, let me know." Both sound correct. Are there any subtle differences in meaning?
2 votes
3 answers
3k views

"It stands without reason" or "it stands to reason"

This question appeared in a previous question. Should I write "it stands without reason that accuracy is of utmost importance" or "it stands to reason that accuracy is of utmost importance?" The ...
0 votes
1 answer
2k views

Question X Doubt [duplicate]

What's the correct form to ask someone if they understood what has been said: Do you have any question or Do you have any doubt?