This tag is for questions concerning the written representation of the English language, especially spelling and word breaks (including hyphenation).
-1
votes
1answer
65 views
Journalist cum Researcher - without hyphens [on hold]
As seen here.
I’m a WordPress Journalist cum Researcher who can turn the torrent of words into something of an acceptable length.
Does the use of the word "cum", assuming from latin, work in this ...
22
votes
4answers
4k views
What is the plural of the noun “go” (as in “have a go”)? [closed]
If I were to try to achieve something you could say I "had a go".
If I tried it multiple times, how would I write that down?
I had many goes
or
I had many go's
or
I had many gos
3
votes
3answers
83 views
“Naïve” yet “naivety”?
I am used to spelling "naïve" thus - "naïve". I am also used to Microsoft Word automatically changing "naive" to "naïve". Hence, I was surprised when it didn't change "naivety" to "naïvety". I then ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
Is travell still an accepted variant of travel?
The word travell caught my eye recently.
It seems it's an archaic version of travel.
But is it still in use ?
AmEng traveled/traveling
BrEng travelled/travelling
But both AmEng and BrEng use travel ...
2
votes
1answer
57 views
Correct spelling of 'timestamp': one or two words?
Something I'm wondering about is the correct usage of the word(s) 'timestamp'. I don't know whether it's one (timestamp) or two (time stamp) words, and googling for the answer doesn't help me in ...
1
vote
0answers
20 views
Pipelineable/pipelinable? [duplicate]
In computer science, pipelining is a common technique used to increase the throughput of processing units, both in the context of hardware and software.
When describing a context that are amenable to ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
Using space or not in “cardholder”
I am reading Cambridge IELTS book. There is somewhere in the book written: "You, as the card holder, should put your name... "
But some lines below it, it is written that: "that's just above the ...
1
vote
2answers
36 views
To improve the carbon footprint vs. to reduce the carbon footprint
Y'all know the carbon footprint, describing the CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere by a company etc.. I am pretty unsure, if it needs to be to "improve" or to "reduce" the carbon footprint. ...
1
vote
2answers
70 views
The use of “en-” vs “em-” as a verb prefix
The prefix en- (from French) has a variant spelling em-. (This is also associated, although I believe imperfectly, with the use of the sound /m/ in the pronunciation of the prefix.) Although the ...
-1
votes
2answers
53 views
I need to know what would you call someone that “Believes everyone is the same” such as addicts/alcholics [closed]
I hate STIGMA , I am bipolar and a recovering addict. I get treated the same as someone who is still being destructive.
I AM SICK OF PEOPLE JUDGING ME AND NOT GIVING ME CHANCES because the term "...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Was ''millionth'' once spelled as ''millioneth''?
I've seen ''millioneth'' a few times in older books. Dictionaries seem to all say ''millionth''. Is ''millioneth'' simply incorrect or could it be that it is an old non-standard spelling.
0
votes
1answer
79 views
Why does “inferred” have two Rs while “inference” doesn't?
Earlier today I spelled "infered" with one R and my handy editor promptly added some red squiggles.
Acknowledging the error of my ways I added the missing R happy carried only writing my document.
...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Spelling of own method in publication
I am about to publish my machine learning method which I called "Run-clustering" (obviously I use a different word than "Run", I use it as a place holder here, since my paper is not published yet). I ...
0
votes
2answers
67 views
“do you have” pronounced [djuv] d'you've
I hear contraction d'you've from "do you have" quite often, broadly [djuv], yet google throws back no result for such a phonetic word. I'd like to know how it's orthographically represented.
For ...
0
votes
1answer
74 views
Why is “Rectangled” not accepted usage? [closed]
Why is “Rectangled” not accepted usage (MS Word (and MS Outlook) always consider it a mistake)?
For example, here is the usage in a sentence:
Select the “CTF” entry (rectangled above), and then ...
-1
votes
1answer
29 views
The use of any in this sentence
I want to know if both sentences are correct :
Written permission for any such copying.
Written permission for anything such copying.
7
votes
2answers
82 views
Any advice for agentive suffixes of single-syllable words ending in y?
I got stuck on whether I should say I'm a frequent flier or flyer. I came across an article on writingexplained.com and it confirmed pretty much what I suspected, that there's no consensus on the ...
-1
votes
1answer
55 views
Where can I make a line break in “predesign”? [closed]
At which point can I make a line break in predesign?
2
votes
1answer
67 views
When to use -ial and -al in forming adjectives, like pictorial and electoral
I have some adjectives that have either -ial or -al in the end. Two duo suffixes are same in meaning.
Words sufixed with -ial:
Luxorial, pictorial, advertorial, editorial,
Words suffixed with -al:...
1
vote
0answers
28 views
Are you able to interpret the word '' in '' at this paragraph?
Paragraph :
They found that people were more honest when they were watched by eyes than when there were pictures of flowers. They put times as much money in.
0
votes
1answer
112 views
Spelling of temperature and preparation
Today, I have come up with the two confusingly-spelled words: temperature and preparation.
The 'para' in preparation, and the 'pera' in temperation, look quite similar in pronunciation when we read ...
1
vote
0answers
19 views
Use of “the Earth” or Earth? [duplicate]
I have a sentence where I'm unsure about my grammar when discussing planets:
"Branch Technology is revolutionizing the use of 3-D printing to create architectural elements and structures that will ...
11
votes
2answers
2k views
Why doesn't English spelling vary with region that much?
Even though English spelling is so irregular, native speakers still share a common writing system with little regional difference. When you refer to the moving organ in your mouth, you may pronounce ...
10
votes
4answers
566 views
Difference between “under”, “underneath”, “below” and “beneath”
It leads me to the confusion, when it comes to contradicting between some prepositions.
Today, I want to know the distinction between the two similar senses of these prepositions: under, underneath, ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
Is it necessary to use “will” twice on the text below
Thanks for your feedback. We will make the changes and be ready for tomorrow’s call
0
votes
2answers
79 views
Is it me or does Grammarly have it wrong: “Your” vs “You're” [closed]
My friend and I are having a debate whether the following is wrong
your saying Grammarly is wrong and your smarter.
since it's the wrong your.
But Grammarly seems to not pick up on it, is it ...
3
votes
2answers
83 views
Is there any use for ¿ in English language?
I know that ¿ is used in Spanish language to make questions. But I never saw that in English language. Do we use "¿" for something in English language?
I've found info about irony ponctuation but I ...
5
votes
2answers
327 views
Is “buffeted” the AmE version of the BrE word “buffetted”?
I am referring to the use of the verb "to buffet" meaning
"(especially of wind or waves) strike repeatedly and violently; batter."
The use of "buffeted" and "buffeting" is widespread. However use ...
1
vote
0answers
25 views
I know a word when I see it , but do not know how to spell it on my own [closed]
What is it called when you know a word when you see it. But can not spell it on your own
12
votes
3answers
907 views
“Shaw” → “Shavian” – why “v”?
The spelling for the adjective derived from the name Shaw is Shavian and not Shawian. Similarly you can find Arrow → Arrovian and Harrow → Harrovian. This strikes me as odd.
First of all, I accept ...
-4
votes
1answer
160 views
initialised or initialized which one is correct spelling? [duplicate]
I have often seen initialised in lots of text, but when I want to write it in Microsoft office word, it says it was misspelled and it should be initialized instead of initialised.
so here is my ...
0
votes
3answers
119 views
“Sassanian” vs. “Sasanian”: Which one is more accurate? With one “s” or two?
Sassanian: Webster.
Sasanian: Wikipedia.
I am really confused which one is more accurate... Even the pronunciations are different.
0
votes
1answer
45 views
“Open source” or “open-source”? [duplicate]
Would you say both are correct? I have a doubt about "open-source", but I've seen it quite a lot.
Thank you.
3
votes
1answer
96 views
When do I use æ?
I've always seen this letter but didn't start learning about it until 10 minutes ago. What I was wondering most was when to use it. I have found some conflicting sources about it so if anyone could ...
0
votes
2answers
52 views
Using a designer's name or brand name as a substitute for the product itself
Example: A character owns a pair of Sophia Loren sunglasses. Before going out for the afternoon, "She drew on her Sophia Loren’s, flipped her long mane back, and tossed him a cheeky grin."
If I'm not ...
0
votes
1answer
53 views
non taxable vs non-taxable [duplicate]
Is the correct usage of the non-taxable or nontaxable? I'm not sure what the correct use is. I want to say that it is with the hyphen however it ha become a debate that this could be incorrect.
26
votes
2answers
4k views
How did words like align get a g?
One answer for Is there an etymological explanation for the silent ‘g’ in “paradigm”? mentions that words such as
align,
apophthegm,
arraign,
assign,
benign,
campaign,
consign,
deign,
design,
...
19
votes
2answers
1k views
Is there an etymological explanation for the silent ‘g’ in “paradigm”?
Whenever I come across the word paradigm, I have to make a small conscious effort not to pronounce the letter ‘g’.
In Italian, it is spelled paradigma and each letter is individually pronounced i.e. ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
When did 'some one' turn to 'someone'?
I was recently reading a book from sometime in the first half of the 20th century and I noticed that the word ‘someone’ was spelled separately as ‘some one’.
Was there an official change at some ...
1
vote
0answers
56 views
Consistency. If I write 'recognize' with a 'z' do I have to write 'characterize' with a 'z' too?
I'm translating a book and need to keep the English orthography consistent. I'm a native 'British English' speaker. I know in British English you can often use either 'ize' or 'ise' endings. My ...
2
votes
0answers
177 views
Is “mediaeval” an outdated spelling of “medieval”?
I saw "mediaeval" on a Wikipedia page, and figuring it was a typo, edited it to "medieval", it was reverted as apparently mediaeval is the UK spelling. However, in all the dictionaries I've found from ...
1
vote
0answers
35 views
Examples and rules for one-letter change in spelling drastically changing pronunciation [closed]
I only have one example but it is striking for me as it showed how much I still do not know about spelling: breath /brɛθ/ vs. breathe /briːð/
Can you give more examples of this phenomenon? Are there ...
0
votes
4answers
135 views
If “cleanliness” is a word can I say something is “cleanly”?
As per the question, I might have spelt cleanly wrong...
0
votes
1answer
138 views
Reengineering or re-engineering?
I have seen both spellings of re-engineering used (with and without hyphen). Personally I prefer the hyphenated version as it aids with proper pronunciation of the word.
Dictionary.com seems to ...
0
votes
2answers
77 views
If anonymous and anonymously are words, and so is onymous - why isn't onymously?
I need to write the following but apparently "onymously" isn't a word?...
The user can post anonymously or onymously
How can anonymously be ok to use - but not onymously? Can anyone suggest a ...
6
votes
1answer
290 views
What is the history of the spelling “imflammable” (with M instead of N)?
It's well known that some people find the presence of the in- prefix in inflammable to be confusing, and as a result, the form flammable has become more common over time.
Although the spelling "...
0
votes
2answers
287 views
which one is correct and why “I will crack a joke or I will tell a joke” [duplicate]
This morning my bro told me “I will tell a joke” but my sister said “I will crack a joke.”
I am confused. which one is right or why?
1
vote
2answers
75 views
Why is it necessary to continue to use the apostrophe in don't?
This is a case where afaik there is no existing word spelled "dont" which is confusing. Is there any evidence that this is becoming or will become acceptable spelling? More broadly, is texting and ...
0
votes
2answers
61 views
The term “ad hocness”
A strange compound of Latin and English. Reasonably common in epistemology and the philosophy of science. (Academic philosophers are not uneasy at creating new words when the need arises.)
Questions:
...
0
votes
1answer
133 views
What is the proper usage of “high school” as an adjective?
I want to indicate that a friend's brother is in high school. For example,
I was not close with my friend's high-school brother.
Is this construction correct? Should it be high-schooler brother ...
