Questions tagged [is-it-a-word]
Questions about the perceived legitimacy of would-be words.
338
questions
2
votes
0answers
93 views
Dividation, is it a word? [on hold]
If, yes, what's the usage and is Division a correct replacement?
Edit:- I heard this word while travelling like "Dividation between classes".
I've googled it and Google says if I mean Divination. I ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
Is '“snapshotting” a correct word? [on hold]
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
votes
1answer
55 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
vote
1answer
49 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
votes
1answer
64 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
votes
1answer
41 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 ...
2
votes
0answers
117 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
122 views
Is “bumption” a word?
"Bumptious" means conceited or pompous. Does the word “bumption” exist to describe such a trait?
1
vote
4answers
112 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
votes
3answers
65 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
votes
1answer
36 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 ...
-1
votes
2answers
49 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
votes
1answer
107 views
Is there such a word as repercussionless
Is there such a word as repercussionless. Or what word would mean something like that??
1
vote
2answers
278 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?
-1
votes
1answer
103 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
votes
2answers
87 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
1k 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
124 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 ...
0
votes
2answers
306 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
votes
2answers
209 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
404 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
491 views
Is “Illustrationist” a word? [closed]
Is “illustrationist” an existing word? Or should I use ‘illustrator’ instead?
2
votes
2answers
219 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
528 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
119 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
votes
1answer
269 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 "...
1
vote
3answers
105 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
votes
1answer
22 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 ...
0
votes
4answers
436 views
If “cleanliness” is a word can I say something is “cleanly”?
As per the question, I might have spelt cleanly wrong...
2
votes
3answers
51 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 ...
-2
votes
1answer
296 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
252 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
3k 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
votes
2answers
2k 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
687 views
Is “occurence” a word?
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&filter=dictionary&query=occurence
It seems that occurence is not a word, but a friend said it is because he says he found it in the OED....
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Is “modificate” an English word?
Is "modificate" a correct English word?
From source: http://www.definitions.net/definition/modificate (Webster Dictionary)
Modificate (verb)
to qualify
Origin: [See Modify.]
But if I ...
7
votes
1answer
646 views
Is there a word 'uptrending'?
Exactly as the title states: Is there a word 'uptrending'? Wikipedia suggests it is, however, Word marks it as a mistake.
0
votes
4answers
1k views
Is “subjugative” a word?
I recently used the word subjugative in the following sentence:
Any company that wants to be “legitimate” (raise money, hire employees, file taxes, distribute shares, etc.) puts itself in a ...
2
votes
4answers
924 views
Is “rejectance” a proper / legitimate word?
Is rejectance an actual word that is interchangeable with rejection? I have not found it in any of the dictionaries available to me.
I heard this word from a startup owner, who said the phrase: "...
3
votes
1answer
106 views
A word for “inferentiability”
Suppose that I can infer that x is an X, given a statement y. Thus, the statement y affects the ability to infer that something is an X. I would like a word that sums up "the ability to infer". It ...
5
votes
1answer
225 views
Meaning of “contumelist”
J.M. Coetzee writes this sentence in Elizabeth Costello:
He is here simply to protect her, to bar the way against the
relic-hunters and the contumelists and the sentimental pilgrims.
(p. 30 in ...
0
votes
2answers
515 views
Why dispute Efficate as a word [duplicate]
Not a "formal" word, but most of our current day mobile texting is not formal, a whole new evolving language...
I use "Efficate" as:
"... What can I do to best efficate Laura's desired outcome?"
-1
votes
2answers
652 views
Is “logicalising” a valid word? [closed]
Is logicalising a valid word, if the meaning was to make something supposedly 'illogical', logical?
4
votes
1answer
1k views
Is TA'ed a word?
We commonly abbreviate teacher's assistant as TA.
Suppose I have the following sentence:
I was a teacher's assistant for Chemistry 101.
We can also say:
I was a TA for Chemistry 101.
But, is ...
2
votes
3answers
10k views
Is “encapture” a word?
I always thought that "encapture" is a word meaning "to capture". However, spellchecking softwares flag this term and a quick Google search shows that this term is not listed in any dictionary except ...
0
votes
3answers
127 views
Eloquentsexual-but-mainly-for-teachers?
Little story first: every time someone asks me for my sexuality I either say bisexual (cause it's the easiest to explain) or that I don't label myself. Now this is not exactly accurate because I ...
42
votes
5answers
478k views
What does “covfefe” exactly mean?
The Washington Post (May 31, 2017) reports that “[President] Trump targets ‘negative press covfefe’ ” in his tweet:
MORNING MIX: Trump targets ‘negative press covfefe’ in garbled
midnight tweet ...
-2
votes
3answers
718 views
Is “obtention” a word? [closed]
"Obtention" shows up in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary. I've never seen it used, though I can't find any good alternatives. What context would you use it in, and when would it be appropriate/...
1
vote
3answers
3k views
Is there a word for evoking jealousy or wanting to?
I see this behavior in my dogs probably the most, where it wants to flaunt something it has, like a toy, in order to try and make me jealous. It's not just the ask for attention, but the behavior to ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
Why is “seldomly” not a word? [closed]
It feels like "seldomly" could be a very useful word.
For instance, I often get the urge to say "It is seldomly discussed that the world is a messed up place". "seldomly" here would mean something ...
asked Mar 26 '17 at 3:59
Carlos - the Mongoose - Danger
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