All Questions
129,970
questions
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Can there be two different hyphens in multi-word compounds in English?
In Wiley's redaction, they edited our hyphens in our article title, so we have now two different hyphens there:
Extension of Pradel capture–recapture survival‐recruitment model
accounting for ...
- 809
0
votes
0
answers
12
views
Should redundant "also" with "too" in the same sentence count as a (style) error?
As a non-native English speaker, I keep seeing (professional) articles, often by native speakers of English, that say something like "The bass is also quite strong too". This strikes me as ...
- 11
0
votes
0
answers
42
views
"Speaking bad English has been a thorn in my side for years" or "Speaking English has been a thorn in my side for years"? [closed]
I have been trying to learn English for years but I haven't been able to make enough progress. Which one do you think matches my situation best?
-1
votes
0
answers
45
views
“From Bob and I” or “From me and Bob” when wishing happy birthday [closed]
What is the grammatically correct way to end a happy birthday message?
Ex.
“Happy Birthday Joe!
-From Bob and I”
or
“Happy Birthday Joe!
-From me and Bob”
- 11
-2
votes
0
answers
28
views
Largest number of letters in making five common five-letter English words [closed]
What is the largest number of letters one can use in making five common five-letter words in the English language? The following list covers 23 letters:
TREND, SWAMP, BOUGH, FLICK, JAZZY
Is it ...
- 97
0
votes
0
answers
17
views
Why not "example" for quotes, and 'example' to indicate paraphrasing? [closed]
If it's not clear, why not " "=quotes versus ' ' =paraphrasing
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
45
views
A comma before "if"
So, I have a sentence,
You can show it to him, if you haven't done it already.
My reasoning for this comma is that I don't really put a condition per se before my interlocutor, I'm merely saying &...
- 235
1
vote
1
answer
93
views
Do we use the subjunctive with verbs of sense?
An ESL student told me she was taught never to use the subjunctive with verbs of sense (touch, taste, feel, etc.). So, compare the following sentences:
She behaves as though she were the boss.
I ...
0
votes
0
answers
18
views
Inclusive meaning [migrated]
These example sentences are from Cambridge dictionary. One thing I can't understand is the use of the word inclusive. If I omit it, does it mean the same? The other example is the same. I don't know ...
- 1
1
vote
2
answers
47
views
Precise word to describe "falling short of greatness" or "eluded by greatness"
I would like to narrow down what options we have in English to the concept of being very close to seizing greatness for oneself but falling short. A ready example that comes to mind is the Alexander ...
- 1,763
0
votes
0
answers
27
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lying to/in/on/through/from your face [closed]
I read these two sentences in a DM article today:
'Unfortunately... you lie all the time through your face,' a female voice can be heard saying on the audio tape obtained by A Current Affair.
'The ...
- 1
-1
votes
1
answer
46
views
Meanings of "carriage" in Enola Holmes
The following conversation takes place near the beginning of the movie Enola Holmes
Mycroft: We didn't send for you silly girl, we sent for the carriage.
Did you at least bring it?
Enola: The ...
- 184
0
votes
0
answers
32
views
Needs an explanation difference between "like to go..." and "like going..." [migrated]
The question is : Peter _____ running in the evening.
The answer can be either likes to go, and likes going.
I assumed that both answers mean the same thing, however they could be interpreted slightly ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
27
views
Is the sentence "What I need to do is sweeping them off" grammatically correct?
I think "What I need to do is sweeping them off" should be What I need to do is (to) sweep them off"
Can "sweeping" be allowed to be used? or grammatically wrong and never be ...
- 31
1
vote
1
answer
62
views
What is the city equivalent of 'hillbilly hell"? [closed]
As you may have already known, and for those of you who don't know, hillbilly hell is a term used to mock the countryside in the USA, with all of its perceived flaws (insular, racist, decaying ...). ...
- 19
1
vote
1
answer
52
views
Hyphens are used in words from 0-99 (correction 21-99), but what if a number larger than 99 is a compound adjective before a noun?
For example, which of these are correct?
The pizza delivery service had three thousand, seven hundred and eighty-two clients.
The pizza delivery service had three-thousand-seven-hundred-and-eighty-...
- 11
-1
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0
answers
38
views
Tuplets, decuplets, and whats after
So, I’ve been looking into tuplets and decuplets, such as in multiple births (2-19). I’m seeing a pattern in these, and I’m severely wondering if this is a continual pattern.
From 2-3 there is no real ...
- 7
0
votes
0
answers
25
views
Slang appropriate use [closed]
Is yeah consider a slang?
If is consider as slang, can a professional use that slang in a Corporate meeting!
0
votes
0
answers
30
views
vs meaning in english [closed]
In English, to compare several items, it is written
item 1 vs item 2
Is this an abbreviation of a word?
What is the exact meaning of vs ?
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
42
views
Term to quantify a parameter in a decision-making procedure which affects multiple individuals?
Suppose a group of people are purchasing ice cream, and a flavor must be chosen for each member of the group. One possible procedure would be for a single, trusted member to decide which flavor each ...
- 115
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votes
3
answers
66
views
If the first half of the sentence is a hypothetical scenario and other half is the postulated outcome, should one use "had been" or "was"?
Apologies for possibly a dumb question.
Let's be honest, IF it was the other way around the build would have been
blocked and if by any chance it was released, it would have caused
some serious ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
13
views
Re-condition vs recondition in statistical text [duplicate]
I write an article which is talking about conditional probabilities. Each probability is conditioned on something (some condition). Then, in the following sentence, I am talking about changing this ...
- 809
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votes
0
answers
21
views
How to use o'clock form [closed]
While writing time in o'clock format should 11 a.m. be shown as 11 o'clock or eleven o'clock? Should the number be written in numerals or letters? And if the time is 10 a.m. or earlier, should the ...
0
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0
answers
16
views
"Deploy in your way" or "Deploy your way"？ [closed]
Deploy in your way
or
Deploy your way
Which is correct? What I want to say here is to use your own method to deploy something into your computer.
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
15
views
Learning English : almost like this "where are you from ?" [migrated]
I have one question almost meaning like this "where are you coming from?" but not ask country or state or province, it is not long way long time. It is short way and just happening. It is ...
0
votes
0
answers
35
views
Which is correct? "This subject attracts attention from researchers into/on/of tourism" [closed]
"This subject attracts attention from researchers into tourism"
"This subject attracts attention from researchers of tourism"
I am a non-native speaker and would like to know which ...
- 19
0
votes
1
answer
26
views
Preposition on, in & against, on
Which of these statements is correct?
On/In
a. Lying in the bed
or
b. Lying on the bed
Against/On
a. Leaning against the wall
or
b. Leaning on the wall
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votes
0
answers
28
views
'Initially focused on A.' or 'Initially focusing on A' [closed]
I am faced with a little problem with how to express a change in interest.
I have written,
Initially focused on A, I shifted to B in the middle of this year.
to express no longer interested in A, ...
- 101
0
votes
3
answers
96
views
How to express a situation when a class teacher briefly and quickly mentions a section without full coverage
How to express a situation when a class teacher briefly and quickly mentions a section without full coverage.
What is the best word (verb & noun) for this situation. Is it called skim? This is ...
- 11
0
votes
2
answers
69
views
Fishes and Deers
I saw a video clip with the concept of a plural of plurals. Here is an example:
In the ocean there are many fish.
I saw 3 different kinds of fishes.
First, is this correct usage?
If so, could I ...
- 113
0
votes
0
answers
39
views
Is a noun singular or plural when listing two or more of them that are numbered? [duplicate]
I was asked by someone to review a selection of portrait photos and then respond by selecting which one(s) I wanted to have printed. Each photo is labelled "Pose," followed by a letter (i.e.,...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
23
views
What is a synonym for "exemplified to the max"? [closed]
In a formal graduate application essay, I would like to say that my research can only be exemplified to the max at this University. How can I phrase "exemplified to the max" formally?
- 101
0
votes
0
answers
52
views
An impolite commentator
Sometimes we see some people writing impolite comments on a YouTube video. And sometimes they are secretly sent by companies, organisations or political entities who pay them to mislead viewers and ...
- 1,440
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votes
0
answers
42
views
What words should I use for unpaid internet artists if they're offended by the word ''amateur''? [closed]
What kind of words should I use for unpaid internet artists if they are offended by the word "amateur"? I'm talking the type of artists that you see on DeviantArt, regardless of what skill ...
1
vote
2
answers
147
views
Why can we say "is your mother home?" but we can't say ''is the boss office?" [duplicate]
Why can we say "Is your mother home?" but we can't say "is the boss office?"
originally Why to ask if someone is at home? you can say "is your mother home?", but you can'...
- 19
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votes
0
answers
42
views
Is there a word for an event that someone is most memorable for?
For example, is there a word for John Wilkes Booth assassinating President Lincoln? That would be most people's only known event of his life - it'd be memorable but is there a noun to represent that ...
-1
votes
0
answers
36
views
Is "puncture" onomatopoeic? [closed]
"Puncture" sounds onomatopoeic but I didn't find references indicating so.
When puncturing a volume that has a slight overpressure, the noise it makes may sound like "pnk-ch".
- 199
1
vote
2
answers
64
views
Can I pluralize compound proper nouns, like "Aunts Jane" for two aunts with the same name?
If I have an aunt named Jane, then I would write "Aunt Jane," where "Aunt" is capitalized because it is part of a proper noun.
If I have two aunts that are named Jane, would I ...
0
votes
0
answers
25
views
Is it an error to use "it" to refer to two different things in one compound sentence? [migrated]
An example:
Alice: I've been to a vet. My cat has a tumor.
Bob: Don't worry. If it's not malignant, it will be fine.
Carmen: Are you sure this cake recipe is correct.
Daniel: My grandmother gave it ...
- 151
-1
votes
0
answers
35
views
How do you describe placing a little bit of something in hopes of helping it multiply faster? [closed]
I was using a brand new piece of glass and I wanted it to get broken in faster and begin accumulating more residue faster. So, I took a piece of residue from my old glass and wiped it on a few parts ...
0
votes
1
answer
45
views
What's the meaning of "to outdraw" somebody? [closed]
In the lyrics of "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, there's one line that has been puzzled me for a long time:
Well, maybe there's a God above
But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to ...
0
votes
2
answers
87
views
Should we say "insisted that we attended" or "insisted that we attend"?
She insisted that we attend the party.
She insisted that we attended the party.
I know the following versions are correct (I'm only curious about the ones above):
She insisted that we should attend ...
- 53
1
vote
2
answers
27
views
Is the use of present infinitive wrong in the sentence? Also, what are the other uses perfect infinitive?
while reading JC Nesfield, I came across a para saying "It was rude of him to have done it" is grammatically wrong and it should be written as "It was rude of him to do that". Why ...
- 69
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votes
0
answers
32
views
in which situations could I refer to a course as "generic"? [migrated]
I've been spell-checking a company's course catalogue for business online courses and one of its sections is titled "generic courses", the courses in this section are ones that are relevant ...
- 41
-3
votes
0
answers
34
views
Answer these MCQs [closed]
Answer these questions.
The teacher asked us who invented the _____ bike, and no one knew.
a. __ b. an c. a d. the
Twilight is probably ______ film ...
-1
votes
1
answer
23
views
has won her ... on Saturday
If the following extract of a news story was published on Saturday, is it okay to use the present tenses and expressions like "on Saturday" rather than simply "today"?
American ...
- 1,879
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votes
0
answers
33
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Is "intellectually exacerbating" grammatically correct; and does it mean what I think it means?
Is "intellectually exacerbating" grammatically correct, and does it mean something along the lines of "making others stupider"? If it doesn't, what adjective can I use in lieu of ...
0
votes
4
answers
87
views
Another way to say "I identify as"
I was hoping this group of educated people could help me find another phrase for "I identify as". Ideally I'm looking for a phrase to replace this one that's used in the transgender ...
- 11
0
votes
0
answers
60
views
When using compound nouns, is the quantity of the first noun always ambiguous? [duplicate]
My understanding is that solution discussion is grammatically correct, whereas solutions discussion is not.
However, when looking at solution discussion, I cannot say if it is a discussion about one ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
15
views
Definitive list of words that make up each point of view (i.e., first person singular, second person, etc) [closed]
Doing some text analysis and just looking for a textbook I can cite with a table of these or comprehensive list.
- 1