Thursday, July 15, 2021

Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

An idiom to describe something that takes less effort

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 10:11 AM PDT

If I wanted to say that something takes one-tenth of the time, I'd say it is 10 times faster. Is there a similar way to describe something that takes one-tenth of the effort? I'm looking for something better than 10 times easier.

I'm trying to write a copy for a product that makes something require 10 times less effort.

Auditory Equivalent to 'Observation'

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 08:41 AM PDT

So.. when you notice a detail visually, you speak of Observation.

When you however notice a certain element within a song, my hearing it, what is that called?

Whats the auditory pendant to 'observation'.

(Isn't it kinda funny how most of any language focuses on the sense of optic? I blame the huge visual cortex of the brain.)

What is the meaning of "cuts at the root of the right-wing position" in this context? [closed]

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 05:17 AM PDT

I was reading the book The Story of Our Ancestors and Where We Came From by Tony Joseph, published in India in 2018, when I came across this sentence that I can't understand. It goes like :

There was the additional problem of the Harappan Civilization: if this mighty civilization which has left an indelible imprint on India preceded 'Aryan migrations', then that cuts at the root of the right-wing position that the 'Aryans', Sanskrit and the Vedas are the fundamental wellspring of Indian culture.

What does this phrase mean : cuts at the root of the right-wing position ?

Forestland is being destroyed at an alarming rate these days. What do you think are the causes of this and what are some ways to solve this problem [closed]

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 04:45 AM PDT

Nowadays, forestland has been being destroyed at an alarming rate. And to understand more, I will list both the causes and ways to solve this problem. We have to mention that deforestation is the main cause of the rapid loss of forestland. As we know that wood, nowadays, is a priceless material decoration and so there are a lot of people who want to use wood to show up their extent of richness and luxury. In consequence, there are a massive amount of trees that are cut down to serve people and this lead to the loss of forestland. One problem involved in this topic is that large-scale agricultural activities are also the problem cause the destroyed forestland. Forestland is cut down to plant crops and raise livestock. One example of this is that Amazon loses large areas annually for land feed cattle. For these problems, I think it can be solved by implementing strong regulations such as imposing strict rules on farmers. If the government implement a policy that forces farmers to protect forests, it could decrease the reduction of forestland. In Malaysia, the number of trees cut down is now decreasing after imposing that penalty.And that is all for my easy

please help me check my essay. Thank u a lot [closed]

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 04:17 AM PDT

Many manufactured food and drink products contain high levels of sugar, which causes many health problems. Sugary products should be made more expensive to encourage people to consume less sugar.

Do you agree or disagree?

In the modern era, sugary food and drink trigger a plethora of diseases. While many people are keen on eating their favorite diet and neglect their health, the others claim that the governmental agencies should raise the cost of food which contain high levels of sugar to encourage the consumers use less sugar products. From my perspective, I strongly agree with this point of view.

There are, on the one hand, a plethora of merits when consuming a lot of sugary products. First of all, sugary food and drinks such as candy, cake, milk etc can make the meal rich in flavor. Moreover, products which contain high levels of sugar can help people to get the energy to work all day. However, on the other hand, there are several pitfalls when people consume large amounts of high levels of sugar in food and drink. To begin with, it is supposed that sugary products cause a lot of health problems these days. Granted, several patients in hospital are covered from diseases such as diabetes, heart stroke etc by virtue of consuming large amounts of sugary food and drink.

To avoid these physical health problems, the authorities are well-advised to raise the price of the sugary products. Admittedly, some people who are needy do not want to waste their money, so they will pay for the food which contain low levels of sugar. As a result, they can protect their health and avoid diseases. Furthermore, by making sugary products exorbitant, consumers will have meals at home and spend time together with their family. In conclusion, I completely agree with the standpoint that the government should raise the cost of sugary food and drink and hold a firm belief that thanks to this solution, the citizens can avoid some physical health problems.

(noun) of (noun): subject-verb agreement

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 08:56 AM PDT

In a sentence that starts with (noun) of (noun) structure, the subject-verb agreement should confirm with the first noun or the second?

For example: Train of thoughts lead (or) leads to something else etc. (Just an example without thinking much of the meaning anyway)

If it agrees with train then it should be, I think, leads since it's singular.

If it agrees with thoughts then it should be, lead since thoughts, in this context, is plural.

Any clarification over the thought is much appreciated. Thanks all.

Preposition for the verb "unassign" [migrated]

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 03:56 AM PDT

If I say something like this:

I will assign this task to this user.

How do I say the same with the verb "unassign", meaning that I want to remove the assignment of that task to that user? What seems the most logical at the moment is:

I will unassign this task from this user.

What's it called?

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 04:51 AM PDT

So basically I told my friend about a meme my other friends made. Let's call this word (the meme) "Green". So she said " Nah, it's blue", and I told her that's false because the other friends made this meme and not her so how would she even know, and she just decided it's blue and not green. When I told her she was wrong she told me it's her opinion. Now, keep in mind that it's a FACT that the meme is called green, but she said "I'm allowed to have an opinion on this and my opinion is that it's blue and not green". I feel like I'm talking to my dog, like bruh what do you mean " It's my opinion"? It's not an opinion, it's a fact! Is there a term for this behavior? If yes please tell me what it's called.

Infinitive without to

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 07:12 AM PDT

What's the difference between" You need stay at home" and " You need to stay at home"? It seems to me that the former one talks about things that someone ought to do as responsibility. Yet, the latter one talks about things that someone needs to do in the future, not at the present. Would appreciate it if someone could help.

Can I add many verbs after the world "Do not"? [migrated]

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 02:29 AM PDT

Dear lovely native English speakers, I have a question. Can I write many verbs after the word "Do not" For example: Do not eat, catch and buy blue crabs. Is the above sentence correct?

boiling of the Glosters [closed]

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 02:35 AM PDT

The boiling of the Glosters in the clouds as they leapt the sky in one, chased by their own din.

What is 'Glosters' here, and what is boiling of Glosters mean?

Thanks.

Which variant should be used? [migrated]

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 12:19 AM PDT

The company was founded by a man who has/had been to Paris. What form should be used and why?

Feathery , sparkling , white snowiness [closed]

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 11:59 PM PDT

… Every single needle on the evergreen trees , with its feathery , sparkling , white snowiness.

Is "white snowiness" a valid expression, or Is it just a metaphor?

What does the term "ticky-tacky" in the song "Little Boxes" mean and what is its etymology? [closed]

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 11:40 PM PDT

The song "Little Boxes" by Malvina Reynolds has these lyrics:

Little boxes on the hillside  Little boxes made of ticky-tacky  Little boxes on the hillside  Little boxes all the same  There's a pink one and a green one  And a blue one and a yellow one  And they're all made out of ticky-tacky  And they all look just the same

What does the term "ticky-tacky" mean and what is it's etymology? Is "ticky-tacky" some sort of building material?

Please help me to read a long sentence

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 04:45 AM PDT

In other words consciousness is an illimitable power, and though at times it may seem to be all consciousness of misery, yet in the way it propagates itself from wave to wave, so that we never cease to feel, though at moments we appear to, try to, pray to, there is something that holds one in one's place, makes it a standpoint in the universe which it is probably good not to forsake.

I found this long sentence from Henry James's letter. While I'm trying to understand it but all clauses are mingled inside my head and I couldn't figure out what the whole sentence means. Can anyone help me to interpret this?

Asking a question without a question word [closed]

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 10:18 PM PDT

Possible duplicate: Why do we sometimes ask questions without question words like "got the keys ?" instead of "have you got the keys?"? Is it alright? Even came across "Is it alright" being used as "alright?" (being used in sense of a question).

Word for "very lazy"?

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 09:14 PM PDT

Well I was seeing some videos on how to replace very, like very funny is hilarious, Very boring = tedious. I cannot satisfy my thirst for very lazy by any word. After searching it narrows down to Laggard, Indolent, Lethargic or may be lackadaisical or slothful. But I do not think they mean very lazy like excessively lazy. Any other suggestions?

What word or phrase describes "badly executed but ultimately successful"?

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 07:59 AM PDT

Like the title says, what word or phrase describes a task that was badly executed, but the task was completed anyway?

What is the difference between strategy and technique?

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 02:13 AM PDT

At first glance both words seem to mean different things, but when looking at how people use the word in society today and their lexicon, both words appear to be the same.

Kelsey had a good technique/strategy at drawing watercolour drawings.

A cancer support charity raised £35,000 for charity due to its strategy/technique of running charity races in scenic locations.

A singer relatively unknown to the music industry was asked for an interview, so given that she creates media and appears in the media, she was very careful to have a good strategy/technique for how she conducted herself in the interview, what she said and how she said it.

From the above three examples, it appears that both words can be used interchangeably. So if it can be, and people do, what's the difference?

technique

a particular way of doing something, especially one in which you have to learn special skills [source]

A technique is a particular method of doing an activity, usually a method that involves practical skills. [source]

strategy

the process of planning something or putting a plan into operation a plan that is intended to achieve a particular purpose [source]

A strategy is a general plan or set of plans intended to achieve something, especially over a long period. Strategy is the art of planning the best way to gain an advantage or achieve success, especially in war. [source]

Is there an alternate term or word for "boyfriend" when talking about an elderly man?

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 04:53 AM PDT

An acquaintance of mine referred to her mother, aged 95, as having a "boyfriend", aged 104, in their assisted living facility. I find this word in this context inappropriate.

I don't know what age an adult has to be before calling him/her a boy or girl outside their own immediate circle becomes inappropriate, but surely it is before they hit 100.

What is an age-appropriate term for boyfriend (girlfriend) for adults, especially adults of an advanced age?

There must be a word or phrase (borrowed from the French ?) to describe this lady's companion. Cher ami is not found even in the OED, although the feminine form cherie amie is, with the definition "mistress". (Same link.) In any case, cher ami is too obscure for most people.

Companion may be the best word, but I'm hoping that the perfect word or short phrase exists, that conveys the romantic nature of the companionship, without calling an adult a boy.

Companion, according to Merriam Webster is

one that accompanies another : COMRADE, ASSOCIATE traveling companions also : one that keeps company with another his longtime companion

The OED has a definition that encompasses lover or partner, which is, I suppose, a vote for companion. See Definition I.3.a.

Why this is not a Duplicate: @Mitch pointed out that my question may possibly be a duplicate of this question. The two are on the same topic, but approach it from opposite directions. I am looking for an age-appropriate substitute for boyfriend (or girlfriend). The other question wants to validate girlfriend for a woman in her sixties. Another similar question has many answers (along the lines of sweetie, significant other), of which only beau is a candidate IMO, that is, not there yet.

Why does "up" mean "into pieces" in "tear up"? [duplicate]

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 05:17 AM PDT

I looked up the Oxford dictionary, it says that up could mean "into pieces/apart". I want to know why. What do you native speakers feel when you say up in "tear up" or "rip up"?

There is an example sentence in Oxford dictionary:

They've had the road up to lay some pipes.

As far as I could understand, up means upward. How could it mean "into pieces"? I don't understand.

Is this a gerund, participle, or continuous infinitive?

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 10:03 AM PDT

just a quick question about what the word "reading" would be classified as in the following sentence:

The students get practice reading at home.

If the sentence didn't have the word "get" it would certainly seem to be a gerund, but with the addition of the word "get" I was having trouble identifying it exactly. I am still of the opinion that it is a gerund, but a friend was arguing that it is an infinitive of some type (continuous infinitive, perhaps).

Whilst or while, etc - Oxford Spelling

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 09:20 AM PDT

I am writing an academic paper and would like to use the Oxford spelling throughout. (I am native British.) I read that Oxford spelling generally follows British English other than a few exceptions, such as -ize (-ization) instead of -ise (-isation). I have not managed to come across rules for the words "whilst/while" and "amongst/among", with the prior of the two commonly used in British English.

Which would be correct to use according to the Oxford spelling?

Dilemma of pronunciation

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 07:45 AM PDT

As a non-native speaker of English, I am often confused about pronouncing words. Is there any standard of pronunciation in the English language? As in, if I give a completely new word to some random people in a native English speaking population, would they speak it the same way?

How do I describe a person who is consistently attentive?

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 09:54 AM PDT

I was trying to compare two coworkers work habits.

  1. One is a sprinter, he works hard for months at a time but eventually gets bored with projects that go longer than a few months.
  2. The other is a marathoner, he works hard on projects day-in and day-out even if they go on for a year or two.

I thought of a bunch of words that describe focus, but they describe short-term focus. Words like:

  • Attentive
  • Attention-span
  • Concentrate
  • Focused

But if I say the sprinter "has a limited attention span", most people would think he gets distracted by Facebook or the TV. What words or phrases would help me compare these two work ethics?

How should I tell someone "I called you but you didn't answer"? without being rude or confrontational? [closed]

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 09:11 PM PDT

We try to reach people on their phones but sometimes they don't answer. Later while addressing them an email or while speaking to them if we want to inform them about the call then what is the best way of putting the message making sure that they don't feel we are arrogant or accusing?

Thanks!

"Not to want someone doing something." What shade of meaning is attached to using the gerund rather than infinitive?

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 06:16 AM PDT

On page 137 of First Certificate Trainer by Peter May (Cambridge Books for Cambridge Exams), the last paragraph in Test 4, Use of English Part 2 (a cloze test on a short text entitled Safe camping), reads:

After meals, pick up any bits of food that might be left on the ground, as these can attract insects – or larger creatures. It also makes sense, for the same reason to keep unused food in closed containers well away from the camp. You don't want a hungry bear or other animal suddenly appearing in your tent!

Why not the structure "(not) to want someone to do something"? Why not "You don't want a hungry bear or other animal to suddenly appear in your tent"? (Or "suddenly to appear in your tent", or "to appear in your tent suddenly"… it is not the place of the adverb I am interested in here.)

The structure "(not) to want someone doing something" is found in the Cambridge Dictionary online, with the example sentence "I don't want a load of traffic going past my house all night, waking me up." But no explanation is given as to when one structure should be used, and when the other.

Reason for different pronunciations of "lieutenant"

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 04:39 AM PDT

While Americans (and possibly others) pronounce this as "loo-tenant", folks from the UK pronounce it as "lef-tenant".

Why?
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)