Newest Questions
132,521 questions
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Should vs must: respectively meaning expectation vs strong certainty
What is the difference between these two sentences:
He should be at home now. (expectation)
He must be at home now. (strong certainty)
I don't really understand the difference between expectation ...
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2
votes
2
answers
59
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What does "deadly" mean in "deadly whisper"?
"Have you any idea how worried I have been?" Said Mrs Weasley in a deadly whisper.
I looked up the dictionary for the word deadly but it has a dozen meanings and I can't seem to fit the ...
0
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1
answer
54
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Ambiguity of Infinitive
I read the following sentence in a TOEIC book:
Receive a customized learning plan to set goals and overcome the challenges that cause many players to get discouraged.
Which one is the correct ...
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4
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106
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How to say A is sitting to the left left of C, if the position is "A B C", without mentioning B?
Something like "A is to the second left of C" ?
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1
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130
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What sound would an English speaker produce when the reduced vowel in ‘want𝑒d’ or ‘𝑒xist’ is under secondary stress (e.g. long note in a song)?
Technically it’s a reduced /ɪ/ phoneme, but when it falls under secondary
stress it changes its phonetic value (exist /ᵻɡˈzɪst/ > existential
/ˌɛɡzˈstɛnʃl/; necessary /ˈnɛsᵻsəri/ > necessity /...
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0
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58
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Usage of 'Not to mention'
In the sentence below, I used 'not to mention' to emphasize that swimming across the Korea Strait is much more difficult than swimming across the Han River. Does it make sense?
He succeeded in ...
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2
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89
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Can "however" void what has been said beforehand? [closed]
Google’s English dictionary, powered by Oxford Languages, says that "however" introduces a statement that contrasts with or seems to contradict something that has been said previously.
Then ...
1
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2
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109
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Difference between "human male" and "male human"
Could you please help me settle an argument? It's regarding the semantic difference between "human male" and "male human". Despite the different ordering of adjective and noun, I ...
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0
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33
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Why is “raining cats and dogs” used to describe heavy rain? [duplicate]
What do animals have to do with storms? The phrase “raining cats and dogs” is widely understood to mean that it’s raining very heavily, but I’ve always found it puzzling. What do cats and dogs have to ...
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2
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2
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450
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Europe-bound vs. European-bound
First sentence of this article: https://apnews.com/article/libya-europe-migrants-shipwreck-7bb9e036d9c9997f524db134aba8b00f
Libya’s coast guard intercepted dozens of Europe-bound migrants on a boat ...
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1
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77
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Which is correct for “___ has arrived early”: “Nobody,” “None,” or both?
I have a question about subject-verb agreement with indefinite pronouns. Which of the following would be the most grammatically accurate choice?
_____ has arrived early.
a) Nobody
b) None
c) Both a &...
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1
answer
31
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Using “As soon as” as a conjunction
Please,what is the correct option in the following example;
As soon as I arrived at school, the lesson…….I missed the beginning.
a) began
b) had begun
I think “ began” is ok in this context.
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0
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61
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When is it OK to have FULL CAPS WRITING? [closed]
I'm having a debate with some friends about the use of writing in all capital letters. Is it considered proper English to do so? I believe it can create confusion, as it might be mistaken for an ...
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9
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What is the adjective for a person that doesn't have any vices or sin
I always forget this word even though I use it often and when I do try to recall it, for some reason I always think of the word "bipartisan".
I would describe it somebody's lifestyle, an ...
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1
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1
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49
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Where did the usage of "cast" as in "to cast a flag [on a post]" come from?
The usage of "cast" as in "casting a flag [on a post, to be reviewed by moderation]" seems much less common than "to flag [a post, etc.]", but it is used extensively on ...
Frog♦
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0
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47
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Shouldn't it be head over hills instead heels like your heads in the cloud over hills the term came from the 14th century before heels were heels? [duplicate]
Heels weren't called heels in the 14th century so how did this come to be? Hills would make more since to me, like your head's in the clouds over hills ...
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3
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Should it be “was” or “were”? “The results were not as conclusive as was/were expected”
The results were not as conclusive as were expected.
or
The results were not as conclusive as was expected.
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1
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63
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Leading zeros and punctuation in American date format [closed]
Americans write the month first because I know. Today is a beautiful date—05/05/2025. Would that be the proper way? In my language, I’d write 5.5.2025, and that’s how some style guides recommend (e.g. ...
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1
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59
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Should I use leading zeros and a colon in American English?
I know it’s a matter of style, but I’d like to know the common one.
In the 12-hour system, I know it’s not recommended to use leading zeros, but I’m not sure about the punctuation. 4:00, 4.00, just 4? ...
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0
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7
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Plural and uncountable nouns without articles [migrated]
I am confused about a section describing the usage of uncountable and plural nouns without articles.
Can they both can be about all of the things and things in general?
Or can they take only one ...
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0
answers
21
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How could I say that I’ve addressed their questions directly in their comments [closed]
I need to write an email and I want to say that some of their questions were answered or addressed directly in the comment they made in the doc
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1
answer
48
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How can I identify the purpose of emphasized quotations (using scare-quotes)? [closed]
I’ve come across a question about the use of quotation marks—specifically emphasized quotes—in my research. For example:
"Success is not 'final', failure is not 'fatal'."
In this case, the ...
2
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1
answer
112
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Is it rude to tell someone not to call me ‘sir’? [closed]
I'm a 35-year-old Hispanic living in South Texas, and I don't like the term sir because it makes me feel old. Would it be rude of me to tell an older Mexican-American woman the following?
Please don’...
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1
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96
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What is the origin of the phrase "useful idiot" in a political context?
I am looking for the origin of the phrase useful idiot in a political context, where a person in a position of power is manipulated as a puppet who is able to set in motion changes desired by the ...
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1
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76
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Anaphoric 'it' after disjunctive noun phrases
What specifically does the word “it” refer to in this citation below, and why?
Identity with something or someone, not to it.
Garner, B. A. (2016). Garner’s Modern English Usage. OUP
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5
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90
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'With': ambitransitive verbs
(Intransitive) My nose was running with snot
(Transive) My nose was running snot (into my mouth)
Is there a specific meaning of with here?
- 3,508
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2
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71
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'And': used to connect two verbs where the second is 'dependent' on the first (in the way catenations work)
AND (now dialectal or somewhat colloquial) Used to connect two verbs where the second is dependent on the first: ‘to’. Used especially after come, go and try.
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/and
https:/...
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'That' (pronoun): in, on, by, or with which
That (pronoun): 'in, on, by, or with which'
Each summer that the concerts take place.
https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=that
Is that replaceable by nonrestrictive when?
Can that be just ...
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0
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50
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'Might': past permission
MIGHT (aux.v., past tense of may)
(Archaic) Used to express permission in the past:
The courtier was informed that he might enter the king's chambers.
https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=...
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0
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36
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What differences are between lexical hyphens and syntactic hyphens?
It is written in CaGEL that
8.2.2 Hard and long hyphens
Among the hard hyphens we can distinguish (though not always sharply) between those
that are lexical and those that are syntactic. The lexical ...
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1
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66
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The contraction “s’if”
What is the meaning of "s'if I laugh" in the song named "if I laugh" by Cat Stevens?
EDITED
S' if I laugh just a little bit
Maybe I can forget the plans that I didn't use
To get ...
8
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4
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2k
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Should it be "is" or "are"? "This tool has far greater powers than is/are apparent"
I must tell you that this tool has far greater powers than is now apparent.
OR
I must tell you that this tool has far greater powers than are now apparent.
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0
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Only young once [closed]
You need to go skydiving with us. Come on, you're only young once—it's time for an adventure!
The surest way to prevent readers from misinterpreting only is to place it next to the word or words it ...
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12
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Aphorism for "if you can't do what you want right now, do something else that furthers the greater goal"?
Are there any well known aphorisms expressing: "if you can't do what you want right now, do something else that furthers the greater goal"?
A few adjacent phrases that don't quite work:
...
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0
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31
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'Hadn't heard' vs 'didn't hear' in a conversion of direct to indirect speech? [migrated]
“I haven’t heard anything about the accident yet, “ said Carl.
⇒
Carl said that he hadn’t heard anything about the accident so far.
or
...
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0
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57
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'(Just) as well' (adjective): meaning and etymology [closed]
WELL (adjective) proper or appropriate
It is as well that you apologized.
It’s (just) as well (that) he can’t come.
It'd be (just) as well to phone first.
What does as mean in this idiom? (and what ...
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0
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Is it correct to say "stop taking this medication for one week"? [closed]
Is it correct to say "stop taking this medication for one week" instead of "don't take this medication for one week"?
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0
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'May' (auxiliary verb): to be obliged (law)
MAY (aux.v.)
5. To be obliged, as where rules of construction or legal doctrine call for a specified interpretation of a word used in a law.
https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=may
I cannot ...
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64
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The meaning of 'Oh hello.' in this passage [closed]
What was 'Oh hello.' supposed to express and why did the audience laugh?
A: I did an audition once with Jude Law... I didn't get it... Um but he was wearing white trousers that were so see-through...
...
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He's earned more than $600.000. (1. have earned = have it now // 2. have earned = life experience) [migrated]
Given that the present perfect can be used to talk about both life experiences and present outcomes, which of the two would this sentence (as it stands) mean?
I 've earned more than $600.000.
It says ...
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1
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121
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Are there any words starting with the letter A or I that also start with a consonant sound (and so should be preceded by "a" instead of "an")?
There are words starting with the letter E, O, or U that also start with a consonant sound (e.g. European, one, user). And so, these words should be preceded by the indefinite article "a" ...
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Does a semicolon work in this sentence, where there are only two clauses and one of them is dependent? The sentence includes a list -- kind of
I'm wondering if it's grammatically correct to place a semicolon where I have it placed in the quote below. I know that a semicolon is almost always placed in between two independent clauses, with the ...
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is "AN" always used before words with beginning with the letter A [duplicate]
What are the rules and exceptions
when using "AN"?
Is "AN" always used before words beginning with the letter A?
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1
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79
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What would be a good word for describing the way the sun feels pleasant on your skin? [closed]
I'm writing a story currently and I need a word for the sun on my main character's skin. It's the kind where it's really pleasant and I guess it's sort of like when you're laying outside on a nice ...
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0
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What is the meaning/difference of to bear and forbear? [closed]
To bear/forbear? Help me out here. I am not religious, I am just trying to understand the context of this usage in text.
2
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1
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151
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Contrasted can vs. can't with equal emphasis in American English pronounciation
In the following sample, American TV anchor Chris Cuomo contrasts the words can and can't with equal emphasis, in the phrase
Amen, my brothers and sisters! That's Ameri-CAN, not Ameri-CAN'T!
https://...
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0
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'Likely to': greater possibility than may, could or might [migrated]
This marginal modal suggests a greater degree of possibility than may, could or might. Compare:
He's likely to be late.
He may well be late.
https://teflconcourse.com/training/inservice/modality/...
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2
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Is "any unfavorable gestures of her" correct grammar?
Is
It was no secret how they always search for any "unfavorable" gestures of her to disapprove for.
correct grammar?
I changed to gestures from actions, but what is better than those two? ...
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2
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65
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'Didn't need to' = so didn't
She didn't need to phone (so didn't).
Compare:
I didn't have to (so I probably didn't but may have)
https://teflconcourse.com/training/inservice/modality/semimodals#2
Is this true? That is, didn't ...
- 3,508
0
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1
answer
81
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Verb forms of mode
The word "mode" is in many dictionaries described as a noun (with two etymologies/meanings). In radiation therapy however you can use it as a particle verb (pun not intended): "mode up ...
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