166
votes
Accepted
Is that an "r" in "worship" in a text from 1591?
That peculiarly written letter is called the R rotunda
The r rotunda (ꝛ), "rounded r", is a historical calligraphic variant of the minuscule (lowercase) letter Latin r used in full script-...
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61
votes
What did Tolkien mean by this awkward sentence structure?
As Mark Guarino asserts in this Chicago Tribune article, The Hobbit was meant to be read aloud. Not only was the prose intended to sound like someone speaking, but "[t]he voice is often written ...
- 1,108
29
votes
Is that an "r" in "worship" in a text from 1591?
After reading more pages of the 1591 dictionary it was made clear that it was an r. It is also made clear by reading the text in this image:
In this image, taken from this page, you can see words ...
- 2,555
28
votes
Accepted
What is it called when you use quotation marks to signify repeating a word or phrase?
They are ditto marks.
ditto stems from the Tuscan dialect of the Italian detto - 'said'; Latin dictus - 'said'.
Oxford Dictionaries Online.
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24
votes
Accepted
Can we use "id est" in lieu of "i.e." in academic writing?
Id est is not commonly used in academic writing today. Two reasons come to mind.
The usage is at best uncommon: A basic JSTOR search will churn up articles dealing with Latin sources, where id est ...
- 37k
23
votes
Accepted
How many syllables do these rules say that ‘every’ has?
No fixed answers
Your problem with every is that many but hardly all words whose pronunciations end in [ɹi] or [ɹiz] have a variable number of syllables depending on how reduced the vowel sound ...
- 133k
21
votes
Why is it spelled "maintenance" and not "maintainance?"
There is no rule that related segments of words have to be spelled with the same sequence of letters. It might seem more logical to you, but that's never been a successful argument in changing English ...
- 77.5k
21
votes
Accepted
Does Grammarly predominantly give the correct use of English?
You may get someone who uses Grammarly answering your question here. But you could also do a Google search which should pull up user experiences. One grammar expert who has nothing good to say about ...
- 32.1k
21
votes
What did Tolkien mean by this awkward sentence structure?
This is probably an example of a resumptive pronoun. It could also be an example of anacoluthon, which is the intentional breaking of syntax or grammar for effect.
The following is speculation on my ...
- 1,040
19
votes
How many syllables do these rules say that ‘every’ has?
Short answer:
Because of a phonological process know as compression, every can be said with either 2 or 3 syllables. This happens to coincide with the "written method" described (see full ...
15
votes
Accepted
What are natural ways to express 'contra-positively' in writing?
The phrase on the other hand is used to introduce a statement differing with one just made in some unspecified way:
on the other hand
in a way that is different from the first thing you mentioned:
...
- 76.3k
13
votes
12
votes
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What is an alternative way to say "Note that" in academic writing?
The best advice is: don't.
Just leave it out.
Readers do not like being constantly (or even repeatedly) reminded to pay attention.
If it is a fact, state it as a fact. If it is an opinion, clarify ...
- 13.6k
12
votes
Accepted
Can I use the word "impotence" and not refer to erectile dysfunction
Even in serious writing, as this sample clearly is, aimed at a serious audience, there is absolutely no problem, this being so because as a well established usage exists and as readers have no reasons ...
- 17.4k
9
votes
Accepted
Is the em dash used in formal writing?
Em dashes can be used if allowed by your style guide (but don't use them too often). For example, this is what APA says:
First, when would you use an em dash? The Publication Manual (p. 97) notes ...
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9
votes
Is that an "r" in "worship" in a text from 1591?
I can only help with the way the word 'worship' was printed during the 1500s.
These are the various bible translations of Matthew 4:10 (Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God) from 1175 to 1568. I have ...
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8
votes
What is an alternative way to say "Note that" in academic writing?
It is to be observed that
(/Please/One should/) Observe that
(One should) Bear in mind that
(One should) Keep in mind that
- 7,606
8
votes
Is there a proper name for the 3 asterisks that are used to suggest temporal discontinuity?
I have heard that construct (a line of asterisks meant to suggest a temporal or logical disconnect) described as a "zareba," back in my days as a typesetter, but I am unable to find a reference for ...
- 81
8
votes
Accepted
Is there a verb that means to write in calligraphy?
calligraph (verb):
Write in calligraphic style
(Source: ODO)
'the invitations were meticulously calligraphed in black ink'
To write beautifully or ornamentally
(Source: OED)
Thanks to Ermanen ...
- 4,041
8
votes
Is "commerical" a valid and different word from "commercial"?
In virtually all cases, commerical is simply a misspelling of commercial. (Your question is a rare—and perhaps only—example where it is not!).
Many of the hits that show up in the google search you ...
- 12.2k
8
votes
What are natural ways to express 'contra-positively' in writing?
Conversely would be perfectly acceptable here, as the word in common parlance simply suggests some type of reversal or contrast, rather than the very specific meaning it takes in the domain of ...
- 12k
8
votes
Accepted
Is there a word for "a broad range of knowledge"?
generalism
Expertise in a narrow range of knowledge is called "specialism," such an expert being called a "specialist," while expertise in "a broad range of knowledge" is ...
- 10.8k
7
votes
Accepted
Pronoun in English without specific referent
In German it can be used often and is not frowned upon in academic writing either.
I think this might be the issue here: not that your lecturers dislike the word 'one' per se, but they may be ...
- 2,625
7
votes
Accepted
User tutorial: to be written in first or second person?
Having written several user manuals, I can offer the following from experience:
Consistency is very important. It's really easy to accidentally slip into: "The user should click this button. You ...
- 4,162
7
votes
What does this sentence mean from "The Box Tunnel"?
The normal meaning of "Could not see X for Y" is that Y is obscuring X and preventing you from seeing it. In this case eyes and mouth would not be literally obscuring the nose, so it is not ...
- 23.7k
6
votes
What are sentences like "the longer X, the more Y" called and can they be used in formal written English?
It is called comparative correlative or conditional comparative:
In grammar, a comparative correlative is a minor sentence pattern
containing two corresponding phrases or clauses, each one headed ...
- 161
6
votes
Accepted
Another way to say "Does not matter" in formal reports
I would recommend using "this is irrelevant".
The residents of City X enjoy favorable living conditions. There is heavy precipitation from time to time. However, this is irrelevant because most ...
- 3,537
6
votes
Accepted
A simple word for one who seeks adventure and tries to help, but hurts more than they help
One option that wouldn't carry the whole sense you are after, but fits pretty well, I think, is thrill seekers.
Ain't no one there but mercs, spies and thrill seekers.
If you also want the sense ...
- 2,092
6
votes
NORMINAL — normal or with nominal mistake?
Lol, he's here making fun of another video. In the video Intelsat 35e Launch Webcast the narrator at 11:37 min says
"Propulsion continues to be NORMINAL"
instead of "Propulsion continues to be ...
- 483
6
votes
What are natural ways to express 'contra-positively' in writing?
If one is writing for an audience that knows the meaning of contrapositive(ly) it is, of course, best to use that term; no other term can convey quite the same idea. If one is writing for an audience ...
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