Thursday, August 26, 2021

Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

Should I use "With" or "at" a given number?

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 10:07 AM PDT

  • The most popular country to visit was Spain with 10 million visitors.
  • The most popular country to visit was Spain at 10 million visitors.

What would be the most appropriate word to fill the gap? [closed]

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 09:44 AM PDT

I would be very grateful if you could share your comments/explanations for the following situation (of course, if you are willing and have enough spare time)

  1. He promised to share the fish if he _____ any.
    a. catches
    b. has caught
    c. would catch
    d. caught

The answer key marks a as the correct answer, but I would like to know your expert opinions and the possible differences in meaning for other choices.

Phrase or idiom for only having seen one part of something but not the whole thing?

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 10:28 AM PDT

For example, suppose I am a student studying physics, and I've taken a bunch of theoretical classes in electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, particle physics, etc. But I have not done any experimental physics, which some would argue is also integral to a physics education.

How can I complete a sentence along the lines of:

Although I enjoyed learning the theory, I knew I was missing [not exactly sure what to put here, but I want to say that experimentation is like the "missing half" in my physics education].

Thanks!

over/in/at some place to describe

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 09:38 AM PDT

I'm a non-English speaker and I have a little question.

Let's say I have some paintings and I want to give them a name, what is the most eloquent way of referring to them?

  1. "Night over/in/at/other London" - what is the best way to describe the night at some location?

  2. "Sunset/sunrise over/in/at/other London" - what is the best way to describe sunset/sunrise at some location?

Are comma splices more common in British English or American English?

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 09:17 AM PDT

To me it seems that they are more common in British English than in American English (and I say that as a Brit). From what I have noticed, American politicians' writing tends to have fewer comma splices than that of British politicians, and comma splices are more common in posts by British users than by American users (no offence to the very many good British writers out there). Further, many of the people whom I know personally (and who for the most part happen to be British) write as though full stops/periods do not exist.

Is it true that comma splices are more common in BrE than AmE, or is it just that Brits tend to use commas more sparingly than Americans? Or is it that I am wrong (a likely possibility, given that I have not been to the USA, having only been exposed to US writing online)?

Idiom for when someone relates two unrelated things

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 08:35 AM PDT

Is there an idiom about someone who surprisingly relates two unrelated things in an unbelievable story?

"Cock and bull story" seems to be used mainly about complex stories told as an excuse (e.g., see examples provided here), and after all, it doesn't necessarily contain two unrelated things which have been surprisingly related: What matters is that story is implausible.

The answer may be an idiom in the form of "He relates X with Y!" (for example "He relates pants with pandas!").

Change "we take yoga classes" into indirect speech [closed]

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 07:33 AM PDT

Change the direct speech into indirect speech...

They said, "we take yoga classes."

Word or short phrase similar to "self-centered" but not judgemental, condescending, or insulting

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 09:34 AM PDT

I am searching for a word or short phrase that is similar to "self-centered" but is not judgemental, condescending, or typically used as an insult.

I would like to use this word to describe a person that has the following qualities:

  • Kind
  • Generous
  • Giving
  • Loving
  • Caring

But also tends to not regularly think about the needs of others.

I realize that this may seem to be incongruous or contradictory, but I actually know several people with all these qualities.

The best I've come up with so far is "self-focused", but to my ears, that still sounds judgemental and a bit like an insult.

Which part of speech do compass directions (north, south, etc.) belong to?

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 07:06 AM PDT

Which part of speech do compass directions (north, south, etc.) belong to (in the sense below)?

The town is north of New York.

Is 'north' a preposition here?

“Be all about everything.” Is this grammatically correct? [closed]

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 04:37 AM PDT

Would that phrase be appropriate to express that I want to immerse myself in being in the moment, in everything that I have been focusing on.

meaning of "near identity of one to the other"

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 03:24 AM PDT

I'm reading the chapter 17 of this pdf, explaining the preposition "OF". The sentence is

In (5), the integration of Subject into Landmark amounts to near identity of one to the other:

(5) The State of California

I don't understand the meaning of this sentence, especially the meaning of "near identity". Is "near" the same meaning as "similar" here? Does the sentence mean that the integration of Subject into Landmark makes the identity of Subject and Landmark vague?

The pdf is a book about English so some words are terms used by the author, such as Subject and Landmark, they are explained on page 6. Also to understand the context, please click the link to the pdf and go to Chapter 17. My question is from the second page of chapter 17.

I really appreciate it if anyone can help me understand it.

There is this sentence in the book "Fight Club" and I don't quite understand the verbs that are used, can you help me?

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 09:15 AM PDT

I'm reading a book called Fight Club and there is this sentence that got me confused:

Marla had started going to support groups after she found the first lump.

Now, past perfect is used in this sentence but isn't the usage of p.p is an action occurs before another action. So, if Marla found the first lump, how come she started going to support groups after it? Isn't it the opposite?

Full passage:

You had their full attention. People listened to instead of just waiting for their turn to speak. And when they spoke, they weren't telling you a story. When the two of you talked, you were building something, and afterward you were both different then before. Maria had started going to the support groups after she found the first lump.

A word for "look from a different direction/angle" [closed]

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 07:47 AM PDT

There are many different words for "look", such as peek, gaze, stare etc. I am wondering if there is a word or short phrase that means "look from a different direction" or "look from a different angle".

"mathematical induction" vs "the mathematical induction" [closed]

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 09:51 AM PDT

Which one is correct? "mathematical induction" vs "the mathematical induction"? It's as often with the article as it is without so is it optional? Can either be used? Is there a difference?

Example 1: "Use (the) mathematical induction to prove the formula for the sum of a geometric series."

Example 2: "Chemistry students don't learn about (the) mathematical induction at the university.

Google the following using double quotes:

"Use the mathematical induction to prove the formula". 2 Results

"Use mathematical induction to prove the formula". 10200 Results

"learn about the mathematical induction". 0 results

"learn about mathematical induction". 27200 Results

So it's settled.

When and why did English change Affrick and Asie to Africa and Asia? [closed]

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 02:06 AM PDT

English names for continents all end in Latin suffix -a / -ia, except Europe.

Africa, America, Antarctica, Asia, Australia

Since English language used to take much of its vocabulary from French during Middle Ages (incl. some suffixes, e.g. -y (← Fr. -ie) as in Italy), I was wondering why English names for continents are not formed after French instead, containing the French suffix -e.

Afrique, Amerique, Antarctique, Asie, Australie

As I found out, Africa and Asia, the two Old World continents, actually DID have the French suffix. According to Wiktionary:

  • Africa comes from Middle English Affrike, from Old French Affrique, Affrike. Obsolete names for Africa include Affrike, Afric, Africk.

  • Asia comes from Middle English Asia, Asie, from Old French Asie and Latin Asia.

And Europe still retains its French -e.

Obviously, the English language changed the French suffixes (-e) for Latin ones (-a). And obviously, this change was not natural but rather artificial/external. (And the neologisms America, Australia and Antarctica were then created in this fashion.)

When and why did this change happen?

When people were used to Affrick and Asie, how did they accept new names, Africa and Asia?

Why did not Europe change to Europa?

What's a phrase for a compromise in which both sides are unhappy?

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 10:29 AM PDT

I feel like I've heard a phrase like "so-and-so's deal" or "such-and-such agreement" that describes an arrangement/deal/compromise that leaves all sides unhappy. Like "pyrrhic victory", but for agreements.

Anyone know anything like this?

EDIT: As a fictional example... two people are getting married. One has family in New York, the other in LA. Rather than have one family have to fly across the country while the other stays put, they decide to meet in the middle and hold the wedding in Oscar, Kansas. No one, including the couple, has any connection to Kansas, and no one in the situation is happy. (Nothing against Kansas, but it's not a resolution that satisfies anyone in this situation.)

Practice and Practise

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 10:16 AM PDT

I recall that at school (in the late 1960s/early 1970s) in England I was taught how and when to use Practice (noun) and Practise (verb).

I am interested in where in the same time period and same country different spelling is used to distinguish between the verb and the noun.

"Both of them" // "Both of whom"

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 10:01 AM PDT

I'm trying to understand and explain to my students why 'both of whom' is the correct answer in the following sentence:

"Credit must also be given to Katheryn and Aiden, both of whom I am immensely grateful for."

I understand why 'both of whom' would be used here, but I can't seem to explain why 'both of them' wouldn't work as well.

Why is "strategies to cutting" correct in this sentence?

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 06:03 AM PDT

I'm reading 'When Breath Becomes Air' by the late Paul Kalanithi, and I came across the sentence: "I could see that there were two strategies to cutting the time short..." My question is why "to cutting" is used rather than "for cutting".

What do you call the person asking someone survey questions and recording that person's answers?

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 06:25 AM PDT

What do you call the person who completes a survey for another person?

Example:

John Doe goes to some supermarket and buys some food. Marie, who works at the quality assurance department of the supermarket, calls John and asks him a series of questions about the food he's just bought (a survey about the food).

In this case, Marie is filling out the survey in name of John about the food he bought. What should I call Marie?

Is there a term for a recipe inside a recipe?

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 10:32 AM PDT

Many recipes often have a "sub-recipe" inside of them. Such as a cake recipe having a separate section for the icing. Other recipes will have a sub-recipe for the sauce. Is there a formal cooking term for this?

According to Google a "sub recipe" is for making submarine sandwiches and a "mini recipe" is for small sized versions of things like cupcakes.

Can present tense be used without an adverb like "usually" or "always" when describing a habit?

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 10:06 AM PDT

I understand we use the present tense when we describe habits.

"My dog always sleeps under the bed."
"It usually sits on the sofa."

Does it make sense if I leave 'always' and 'usually' out? as in the sentences below, without any background information?

"My dog sleeps under the bed."
"It sits on the sofa."

Are they complete sentences? or grammatically correct?

Singular and Plural form

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 09:02 AM PDT

What is the difference between (i) "varieties of choice" and (ii) "variety of choices" ? Does the location of singular or plural in a sentence affect the entire meaning of a sentence ?

What is the verb for "pointing at something with one's chin"?

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 03:12 AM PDT

What is the verb for "pointing at someone or something with one's chin (or head for that matter)", if there is one word for it?

Conditional sentences punctuation: Comma before "if" if there is an "or" before it?

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 04:52 AM PDT

Should there be a comma before "if" on this sentence?

Stop by and introduce yourself or, if you've already had a chance to meet him, swing by to get to know him a little better!

What does it mean to call someone a 'drink of water'?

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 04:49 AM PDT

What does it mean when you call someone a 'drink of water', like at the end of this clip from the Shawshank Redemption? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD07V7Lwacc

It's intended as an insult from the context, but what does it mean?

Is there a word for "25 years" like "bicentennial" for 200 years? Is it "Quadranscentennial"?

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 09:29 AM PDT

I was looking for a word that means "25 years" in the way that "bicentennial" refers to 200 years.

Wikipedia suggests "Quadranscentennial", but I can't find extensive use of that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anniversary

Is there any word for what I'm looking for?
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