Questions tagged [is-it-a-word]
Questions about the perceived legitimacy of would-be words.
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What is the antonym for the phrase “role model”? [duplicate]
"Role Model" is used in a positive light, and thus doesn't fit the sentence below.
Bob saw his incriminated elder brother, and made a ____ out of him.
6
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1answer
162 views
Abetrours :: meaning & etymology
We've found this word Abetrours here and here, but cannot seem to find a definition of it. Can anyone refer us to one, and ideally its etymology as well? Feel free to suggest another StackExchange ...
0
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1answer
30 views
Is 'irreasonable' as the opposite of reasonable acceptable or not? [closed]
Generally, the negative form of 'reasonable' is 'unreasonable' with the negative prefix 'un', but I do have come across 'irreasonable' used as the opposite of 'reasonable'. So my question is whether ...
2
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2answers
134 views
Is there a common abbreviation for “with or without”? e.g. _w/wo_ or _w/w/o_
Is there a common abbreviation for "with or without"? e.g. w/wo or w/w/o
Obviously, something this complex is best written in full form, but I'm looking for something to use in space ...
1
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1answer
54 views
Is 'swaddles' a word?
I swear I've heard the term swaddles used before, but when I look it up, I only get definitions for swaddle. I believe it was used as a noun, but the definition of swaddle is throwing me off.
Here's ...
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0answers
64 views
Is it correct to say ‘Skyping’ in a sentence
Is it correct to say to my boss ‘ I will be Skyping with you from there’
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2answers
284 views
Which spelling would be more correct: “Evictor” or “Evicter”?
Both "Evictor" and "Evicter" show up at Lexico.com. The "Evicter" page is much more substantial, though.
At Dictionary.com, "Evictor" is the only accepted spelling.
Google Trends shows that "Evictor"...
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0answers
129 views
What does Jane Austen mean by the word 'alloy' in Sense and Sensibility? [closed]
As dear Austen had written on page 6, volume 1, chapter 1, I quote -
"But in sorrow she must be equally carried away by her fancy, and as far beyond consolation as in pleasure she was beyond alloy. "
2
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1answer
69 views
Word for being aware only of oneself [duplicate]
I'm looking for a word that describes an entity having only knowledge of its own existence, but no one else's.
The closest I have now is autognostic, auto being "self" and gnostic being "having ...
1
vote
2answers
92 views
Glowy-Is it a new word? [closed]
And the glow of a campfire was not, well, as glowy without the darkness of night.
its context
I didn't get "glowy" in the dictionary. I'm guessing it's a made up word. Do you think it is acceptable？
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0answers
2k views
Is “strategization” a word, or is there something more correct/appropriate?
Is strategization a word? As in:
We noticed flaws in their accounting department so the project will
include a QuickBooks strategization.
[EDIT] As @tchrist points out, this isn't the best ...
0
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3answers
590 views
is “intriguity” an actual word? [closed]
Intriguity as in "the state of being intrigued; curiosity"?
I saw it being used by writers multiple times, but now that I wanted to use it myself, I tried searching it up in the dictionaries and ...
0
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1answer
202 views
Plural of “today”? [closed]
Does the word "today" have a plural form?
I believe it is todays but the gf doesn't believe that is a word?
Thanks
3
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1answer
4k views
What does zitch dog mean?
In "How I met your mother" they played a road game called "zitch did" (or possibly "zitchdog"). Is there such a word as "zitch" (or possibly "zitchdog")?
3
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1answer
3k views
Is recepted a word?
I have been saying this for years, I think. I also thought I had heard it used before. However, today I used it in a sentence, and my spell checker under lined it.
The sentence(fragment) I wrote was:
...
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3answers
743 views
ORIENTEE, a word or not in Scrabble?
I am confused why I cannot use 'ORIENTEE' as a word in Scrabble.
It should mean 'someone who is attending orientation, as in a new employee (and the word is formed analogously: 'someone being ...
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3answers
2k views
Usage of the word “interimly” [closed]
I have a quick question: I used the word interimly talking to someone today. It went something like - 'I give you (someone) pat on the back for interimely filling someone's else shoes'. I am strongly ...
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1answer
52 views
Is '“snapshotting” a correct word? [closed]
For example, as part of the information message of some computer script:
Snapshotting the file...
Can we write snapshotting instead of taking the snapshot? Is it still correct?
I've found an ...
0
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1answer
79 views
Working Culture vs Work Culture
I've seen both usages in articles published by reputable media like NYT and the Entrepreneurs. I've seen both being used to refer to what seems to me to be the same thing. It's so puzzling to me.
An ...
1
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1answer
113 views
Is “minus your points” a valid phrase?
Suppose that a teacher says
I will minus your points if you cheat.
To mean "I will deduct your points."
Here, minus is apparently used as a verb.
Checking out the dictionaries,
it can be seen that ...
-1
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1answer
798 views
Is 'interpretating' a word? [closed]
Is 'Interpretating' a misrepresentation?
I wrote interpretating in my exam. 😭
I found some examples that using interpretating.
Can I use interpretating?
0
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1answer
108 views
How to name collection of web links? [closed]
I have a blog and from time to time I made posts that contains only web links with some short description. Those links was not so easy to gather and they are have a value by themselves. I call this ...
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1answer
656 views
What is the correct term for a fear of breasts?
I have known this is a phobia for quite a while and remember reading the word long ago, but when I googled it today I got 2 different spellings: mastophobia and mastrophobia. Which one is right? Is ...
0
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2answers
267 views
Is “bumption” a word?
"Bumptious" means conceited or pompous. Does the word “bumption” exist to describe such a trait?
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4answers
190 views
what is the verb for water going past a rock?
I'm looking for a verb to describe the "Y" thing the water makes when it hits a rock, for example in the river. Here is a professional piece of art I made (view from the top):
Is it simply called "...
0
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3answers
177 views
Word to describe people who blindly believe accusations [closed]
I can’t for the life of me remember what this word is or if it even exists.
I’m thinking of a word that would describe medieval era peasants who are religious and make and believe accusations of witch ...
0
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1answer
126 views
Is there a word/phrase that describes someone flinching after they sip alcohol?
Even flinching isn't the best way to describe it.
Example: a person will take a sip of a strong alcoholic beverage (take for instance, straight whiskey) and then will proceed to make that iconic ...
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2answers
80 views
can cattleguard be spelled as one word
i'm unable to find cattleguard listed as a single word anywhere, but I think it ought to be an acceptable spelling
2
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1answer
352 views
Is there such a word as repercussionless
Is there such a word as repercussionless. Or what word would mean something like that??
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2answers
810 views
Is “commerical” a valid and different word from “commercial”? [closed]
Googling, I see many places using the spelling commerical, but I don't see that spelling in any dictionaries at all. Is it a mistake for commercial, or are these two different words?
0
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1answer
321 views
Is hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophilia a word?
I'd like to know if hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophilia, my proposed opposite of hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is a real word or condition. I know -philia is the opposite of -phobia and -...
0
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2answers
107 views
Can witnessable become witnessably?
This is for the grammar pros out there—are there any concerns about using the potential word witnessably?
Examplary context:
He witnessably engages in dubious practices.
It is not in a ...
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3answers
3k views
Is untasty a valid English word?
I cannot see untasty in Oxford dictionary. Also spelling checker tells it is invalid. But in dictionary.com , I see it is a related form of tasty. Please see screenshot below. So is it a valid ...
2
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1answer
130 views
What is wrong with the word “motorsporting”?
I was reading a book where the author is discussing the BBC buying the rights to show Formula 1. He quotes the press release by the BBC announcing the acquisition.
The book's quote is "the biggest ...
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2answers
2k views
Is Key Bunch a proper word?
When you want to describe a set of keys bound to a huge metal ring, like the ones you'd see in a game of movie with medieval settings on the belt of a prison guard, what word would you use? Key bunch?...
5
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2answers
319 views
Status of 'hypophora' as a word
I participate in other SE forums where it's common practice for experienced or knowledgeable participants to simultaneously submit both a question and an answer. This can be very helpful in technical ...
6
votes
1answer
785 views
Meaning/Origin of word “Nixie”
In the area of which I live, there is a certain word we use to describe somebody that is naughty, or bad, in a joking/lighthearted manner. I do not know how to spell the word, and every attempt to ...
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2answers
1k views
Is “Illustrationist” a word? [closed]
Is “illustrationist” an existing word? Or should I use ‘illustrator’ instead?
2
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2answers
1k views
Is “deacceleratingly” a valid word?
Deaccelerate means the same as decelerate, though it seems to be a much less common alternative. I did not know this until recently, as I had used this alternative all my life. It just seemed logical ...
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2answers
1k views
Is “misreact” a word?
I am trying to describe someone's reactions in a situation. At first I used the word overreact, but then I realized it is not only the person's overreaction but also other kinds of inappropriate or ...
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1answer
272 views
Is ‘affinative’ a word?
The Microsoft .NET Framework API¹ has a curiously named interface ILogicalThreadAffinative. According to their naming standard, namely concatenating capitalized meaningful English words into a single ...
5
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1answer
722 views
Is multifunctionality an actual word?
After checking a few dictionaries like https://www.dictionary.com, I noticed that the only form of this word they recognize is the adjective form: multifunctional. The only noun form listed is "...
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3answers
162 views
Is “catarolysis” a word? Whether it is or not, how might it be broken down into Greek or Latin derivatives?
Some definitions I have seen are:
"catarolysis - n. - cursing to let off steam"
and
"catarolysis: letting off steam by cursing"
and
"catarolysis /kat uh RALL ih sis/ n The practice of cursing to ...
0
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1answer
27 views
Word choice synonym for exempts/supersedes
So I'm working on a research project where I need a particular word a lot, but I'm not sure if the word I'm using is proper, or if there's a better choice.
Some background, regular T cells need to ...
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4answers
2k views
If “cleanliness” is a word can I say something is “cleanly”?
As per the question, I might have spelt cleanly wrong...
2
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3answers
134 views
Is 'Nail(s) Spa' correct?
I wanted to know if the term “Nail Spa” or “Nails Spa” is correct? I am opening a nail salon and would like to know which one would be correct. I know that Nail salon is correct not nails salon but ...
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1answer
490 views
'Et viola' misspelling or inside joke?
Question
Is et viola [sic](spelled like this intentionally) just a misspelling of et voila or is it an actual word, or perhaps an inside joke (not just a one-off thing)?
Background
Based on this ...
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1answer
636 views
Is “startlement” a word?
I have always thought that startlement is a word in the lexicon. But one day when I was writing in a google doc, I saw it underlined like a typo. I googled it to see if it was indeed a word, or a ...
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2answers
7k views
Is prepwork a real word? What is the proper form if so?
Is prepwork a real word? What about any of these variations: prep-work or prep work? I cannot find any of those in a dictionary.
2
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2answers
3k views
Is “contentual” a proper word?
Is contentual a proper word? I saw in Wiktionary that it is considered to be a proper word:
contentual
adjective
Relating to content (as apposed to context)
However, I have not seen it cited in any ...
