Questions tagged [is-it-a-word]
Questions about the perceived legitimacy of would-be words.
379
questions
2
votes
2
answers
866
views
"unintuitive" vs "nonintuitive" vs"counter-intuitive" [closed]
Today I found out that despite using and hearing it frequently, "unintuitive" is not a word.
I searched english.stackexchange and found countless answers where the word is used.
It also ...
- 21
0
votes
1
answer
30
views
Is it correct to say that similar groups show high levels of "stereotypicity/stereotypicality"?
I am writing a scientific paper describing a group of cells that are consistently patterned together through different developmental stages. Phrased another way, the components of the groups are the ...
- 3
1
vote
2
answers
249
views
Is assistancy a word? If not, what's a better alternative?
Today, I wanted to discuss a role I had as a research assistant at a university. I had discussed it using language like "During my research assistancy, I did xyz" or "I had this ...
- 113
0
votes
1
answer
54
views
Is there such a word as "akind" [closed]
If two things are like each other, they are alike.
But if two things are of the same kind, could I say that they are akind?
- 175
1
vote
2
answers
173
views
Is "surefast" a word?
I was under the impression that "surefast", basically meaning "sure" or "certain", was a word.
A sentence example would be "Learning is a surefast way to success&...
- 113
2
votes
1
answer
78
views
Is there a term for "meltable"? [duplicate]
Full disclosure, I'm kind of dumb so bear with me. I've only googled a dozen or so thesauruses but I came up with nothing for things that are "meltable".
I mean, is meltable even a word? Has ...
3
votes
2
answers
612
views
Is “not’ve” a valid [𝒔𝒊𝒄] contraction in either of spoken English or written English – or both or neither?
My English teacher has recently explained to me that not’ve is an accepted way to write the two spoken words not have, and he gave me this example of using it:
Why that machine is not working? Oh, ...
- 31
0
votes
0
answers
73
views
What is the adjective for flowers (or other objects) arranged into a vase? Vased?
I want to use the word 'vased' as an adjective before a pronoun of a subject to mean the subject has been arranged into a vase. It is a flower in this case, but it could be any other object.
The word ...
- 1
30
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Is "giffy" (meaning airborne salt spray) a real word?
My mother (from Charleston, South Carolina) uses the word "giffy" (spelling unknown; hard g sound) for airborne salt spray that gets all over cars, windows, and (in extreme cases) power ...
- 553
2
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Does the word 'Vinculation' exist?
My main language is portuguese and I'm stuyding English.
I've searched inside Cambrigde Dictionary and didn't find it. But searching for the word itself, I find texts/articles using this word.
- Word ...
- 129
1
vote
2
answers
273
views
Identifying Compound words in Modern English
Compound words like SNOWMAN etc, are obvious compound words in Modern English, as both words that make up the compound word exist as words in Modern English.
However, words like SHEPHERD aren't words ...
- 29
2
votes
2
answers
482
views
Is combustant a word?
I am trying to pin down the definition of the word combustant, but I can't seem to find anything. Almost all dictionaries are giving me the definition for combustion. If I search with a strict filter, ...
- 1,453
0
votes
1
answer
113
views
Can we use "depot" as an adjective? [closed]
Can we use depot in this form: depotted books or depot books?
(I’m not sure about the past participle of this word.)
Or should it be used only as a “place” where books are supposed to be
stored, a ...
- 29
17
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Why can’t I turn “fast-paced” into a quality noun by adding the “‑ness” suffix?
I needed to write a word that expressed the quality of being fast-paced.
"Fast-pacedness" sounded off and I looked the dictionaries up.
Collins is my favourite one. Webster I use when I need ...
- 951
1
vote
0
answers
40
views
Is there a noun for the word "exact" that is like the word "similarity"?
I am not sure how to word this correctly, but I am looking for a noun for the word "exact" that is basically like the word "similarity". Would the word "exactitude" be ...
1
vote
1
answer
176
views
Chanterelle and Chantrelle, which is the correct name of the mushroom?
I always spell it as chanterelle until I bought a box of CHANTRELLE in Whole Foods Market. I looked up my dictionary, and yes, the word should be chanterelle. However, I also noticed that, the word ...
- 157
0
votes
1
answer
594
views
Is "hardwork" a valid word?
I came across this word in an English test, where "hardwork" was marked as the 'correct' answer for a question. I know of the adjective hardworking, but I thought "hardwork" was ...
- 131
6
votes
1
answer
192
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 ...
- 239
1
vote
1
answer
822
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 ...
- 27
2
votes
2
answers
10k
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 ...
- 121
1
vote
1
answer
76
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 ...
- 639
10
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Is the word "psithurism" really used in English?
I have seen people using this word to refer to the sound wind makes as it moves through trees. However,
1. No reputable dictionary seems to have acknowledged this term as a valid english word.
2. ...
- 203
0
votes
0
answers
110
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’
- 31
7
votes
2
answers
23k
views
Is "unironically" a valid word?
Every spell checker I have, both ones that automatically spell check and those run after finishing a document or draft, seems to consider the word unironically to be incorrect. I have heard the word ...
- 84
1
vote
2
answers
587
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"...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
447
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
votes
1
answer
87
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
2
answers
440
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？
- 195
2
votes
0
answers
8k
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 ...
- 127
0
votes
3
answers
1k
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 ...
- 604
0
votes
1
answer
367
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
- 103
3
votes
1
answer
8k
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")?
- 497
3
votes
1
answer
5k
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:
...
- 215
-1
votes
3
answers
2k
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 ...
- 15
1
vote
3
answers
4k
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 ...
- 19
-1
votes
1
answer
101
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 ...
- 673
0
votes
1
answer
378
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 ...
- 51
1
vote
1
answer
321
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 ...
- 179
-1
votes
1
answer
2k
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?
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
553
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 ...
- 101
1
vote
1
answer
3k
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
votes
2
answers
643
views
Is "bumption" a word?
"Bumptious" means conceited or pompous. Does the word “bumption” exist to describe such a trait?
- 127
2
votes
4
answers
288
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 "...
- 604
0
votes
3
answers
307
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 ...
- 21
0
votes
1
answer
585
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 ...
- 152
-1
votes
2
answers
125
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
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
495
views
Is there such a word as repercussionless
Is there such a word as repercussionless. Or what word would mean something like that??
- 369
1
vote
2
answers
1k
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?
- 129
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
The use of "majorly" to describe abundance of something
I hear the term 'majorly' being used often these days and wanted to check the correctness of it. For example,
This article is majorly flawed.
And likewise,
The customer was majorly upset.
If ...
- 21
0
votes
1
answer
614
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 -...
- 2,199