Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

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• you can lead a horse to water, you cannot make it drink
• Better way to say "Sorry I asked"
• How to simplify the Sentence "Failure is not Opposite of Success Failure is Part of it"? [migrated]
• How can I upload a short audio clip of English so that I can ask for help with its transcription [migrated]
• manifests or manifests itself
• Is there a limit for the number of relative/dependent clauses in a sentence?
• Which preposition for "learning ___ heart"? [closed]
• What is a word ending in -phile that means somebody who likes arguing
• What would be the "medical" term for hitting your head against a brick wall?
• The difference between "gonna be doing it" and "gonna do it"?
• Why the use of "across"?
• Daily practice vs daily practise
• He had done nothing about supper,___? hadn't he or didn't he [migrated]
• Idiom for becoming disillusioned
• Why is talking about work called "shoptalk"?
• Can you say "Quid of the situation?" to ask "What about the situation?"
• Can you use the word “wife”, unqualified, to refer to your “common-law wife”?
• Am I interpreting the sentence correctly?
• What do you call this noun phrase that also seems misplaced?
• Word that means 'able to produce the same amount of output with less input"
• What is the phrase that means a quality that is "constant throughout" a larger thing
• Participle Phrases as Adverbs
• Is this a complex sentence or a compound sentence?
• Two past perfect verbs in the same sentence
• In Edsger Dijkstra's quote, meaning of 'the plague'
• 'Him or herself' v. 'himself or herself'?
• "Shepherding" vs. "sheepherding"
• 'Patriotism' is to 'Country' as _______ is to 'City'

you can lead a horse to water, you cannot make it drink Posted: 29 Sep 2021 08:17 AM PDT Is she insulting Ken to say: It is incumbent on Ken to apply that knowledge himself(you can lead a horse to water, you cannot make it drink). especially, she knows Ken is not reading her words. Of course, "you can lead a horse to water, you cannot make it drink" is a metaphorical expression that means: "you can give someone an opportunity but not force them to take it." However, even it's a metaphorical expression, I feel that the horse well corresponds to Ken in this context because she says "apply that knowledge himself" and she knew that. Is she insulting Ken or not? How obvious? Thanks.

Better way to say "Sorry I asked" Posted: 29 Sep 2021 09:18 AM PDT I ran into a situation at work where I had some property I needed to get rid of so I asked our property manager whether I can just throw it away or if there if I need to give it to her to deal with. Her response implied that I could have just thrown them away, but since I asked in writing then she has to do things the official way. My first instinct was to respond with Sorry I asked! as an apology for causing more work for her. However I realized the usual connotation for this phrase is annoyance that the answerer is causing more headache for the asker, and I don't want her to get the wrong meaning. Is there a better way to phrase this to not give the wrong connotation, or am I overthinking this and it would be understood as is?

How to simplify the Sentence "Failure is not Opposite of Success Failure is Part of it"? [migrated] Posted: 29 Sep 2021 07:24 AM PDT I am trying to Simplify the sentence "Failure is not Opposite of Success Failure is Part of it " Simplified sentence is :- Failure is not Opposite of Success Part of it!! Please Correct me if i am wrong !! Thanks, Prasad

How can I upload a short audio clip of English so that I can ask for help with its transcription [migrated] Posted: 29 Sep 2021 07:22 AM PDT Can I upload here a audio clip of English,like .mp3 or .wma so that some native speakers may help me with its transcription

manifests or manifests itself Posted: 29 Sep 2021 07:18 AM PDT The sentence (from University Physics book, the image of full text is attached): The work done by nonconservative forces manifests itself as changes in the internal energy of objects. Can we delete the word itself, if we do, which way is more adopted in math academic writing ? The work done by nonconservative forces manifests as changes in the internal energy of objects. We have above use in the following sentence of medicine: 'a disorder that usually manifests in middle age' (an example of non transitive verb use from the Oxford Dictionary)

Is there a limit for the number of relative/dependent clauses in a sentence? Posted: 29 Sep 2021 05:30 AM PDT I need to correct the following sentence: The article is proving the thesis of shame as a feeling that functions as a bond between people, by presenting a historical analysis of this feeling in three different sections, relying on texts of different eras such as the Iliad, The Confessions, and The Truce, in which the author tries to answer several other questions. I have always suggested students to try to put just one dependent/relative clause in a sentence in order to avoid this ladder effect in which you subordinate clauses ad infinitum. I was wondering if there is an actual rule as to the number of dependent/relative clauses you are allowed to put in a sentence. The use of repeated gerunds, by the way, is certainly a constant when "listing" clauses.

Which preposition for "learning ___ heart"? [closed] Posted: 29 Sep 2021 04:53 AM PDT He loved poetry and learnt poems ___ heart. Which one is the answer from the list from, out of, in, by?

What is a word ending in -phile that means somebody who likes arguing Posted: 29 Sep 2021 04:12 AM PDT I'm sure there must be one. I need it for a rhyme.

What would be the "medical" term for hitting your head against a brick wall? Posted: 29 Sep 2021 07:10 AM PDT My Grandfather was a GP from Aberdeen and often took pleasure in explaining how he dealt with time-wasters. The individual would come into the surgery seeking a Doctors note excusing them from work on medical grounds, even though they were clearly fine. Rather than go through the hassle of a confrontation at the surgery, my Grandfather would send the individual on their way with a Doctors note that said they were suffering from "Oscillatory plumbosis". The individual would be happy that they got away with pulling the wool over the eyes of the Doctor and would proudly present the note to their employer. Then, when the employer telephoned my Grandfather to ask what "Oscillatory plumbosis" actually is, he would explain that the individual is swinging the lead. In a similar fashion, what medical sounding term could describe "hitting your head against a brick wall"?

The difference between "gonna be doing it" and "gonna do it"? Posted: 29 Sep 2021 04:51 AM PDT I got a question when one of my Australian friends said "I'm gonna be working on this[the project] tomorrow". What's the difference between "gonna be doing" vesus "gonna do" which I was always told? What is the point using countinuous tense there? Many thanks.

Why the use of "across"? Posted: 29 Sep 2021 03:35 AM PDT He was pointing at Black who had crossed to the four-poster bed and sunk onto it, his face hidden in one shaking hand. Cross means "going across". Now a room has four sides, what would be across. I mean, if he simply walked along in a straight line, why not "walked to the four-poster bed"? Across has to mean something? Maybe it imply the position with the four sides of walls.

Daily practice vs daily practise Posted: 29 Sep 2021 01:49 AM PDT The sentence reads: ... thorough preparation and daily practice will be essential. In British/International English, would the word used here be "practice" or "practise"? I understand the distinction between the noun vs verb spelling, I am just unsure as to whether practice/practise is functioning as a noun or verb in this case.

He had done nothing about supper,___? hadn't he or didn't he [migrated] Posted: 29 Sep 2021 04:59 AM PDT He had done nothing about supper,___? Should it finish with hadn't he or didn't he? Which one is correct?

Idiom for becoming disillusioned Posted: 29 Sep 2021 05:02 AM PDT What idioms can be used to mean "become disillusioned with myself." my reading speed is 300 wpm and I have always considered myself a very fast reader, but today ________ when I discovered that there exist "speed readers" who achieve better comprehension at 1000+ wpm. If one has pride in oneself, they can "get shown up" by observing someone being better than them at that thing. What other idiom has a similar meaning? The difference being particularly, that there doesn't have to be one specific person "showing them up", but that the person being disillusioned has just been made aware of something that points out they're not so hot as they thought after all. "Rude awakening" vibes.

Why is talking about work called "shoptalk"? Posted: 29 Sep 2021 06:15 AM PDT Why is it called "talking shop" when two colleagues talk about their work or business in a social situation, especially in a way that's boring for others? I don't know what the word "shop" has to do with, for example, the situation in which two farmers talk about their crops at a family party. I mean why is it not "talking business", for example, which is a more general term.

Can you say "Quid of the situation?" to ask "What about the situation?" Posted: 29 Sep 2021 08:30 AM PDT Basically what is in the title. I have vague memories of reading expressions like "Quid of X?" to ask "What about X?" or "What is going on with X?", but online search mostly returns reference to Pound Sterling and automated and unrelated text extracts.

Can you use the word “wife”, unqualified, to refer to your “common-law wife”? Posted: 29 Sep 2021 08:38 AM PDT In some countries, cohabitation (and other conditions) can lead to a state of common-law marriage, attracting certain rights equal to or similar to an "official" marriage. In such a relationship, would it be right to refer to a woman as your "wife", without qualifying her as your "common-law wife"? I am not asking about legal recognition of the term, but rather about what would be the most appropriate word to use in everyday conversation.

Am I interpreting the sentence correctly? Posted: 29 Sep 2021 02:31 AM PDT I'm having trouble understanding the bolded sentence in the following paragraph. The use of enslaved laborers was affirmed — and its continual growth was promoted — through the creation of a Virginia law in 1662 that decreed that the status of the child followed the status of the mother, which meant that enslaved women gave birth to generations of children of African descent who were now seen as commodities. This natural increase allowed the colonies — and then the United States — to become a slave nation. The law also secured wealth for European colonists and generations of their descendants, even as free black people could be legally prohibited from bequeathing their wealth to their children. Source: New York Times (paywalled) Here's what I think the sentence means: The law also secured wealth for European colonists and generations of their descendants because free black people could be legally prohibited from bequeathing their wealth to their children. However, I couldn't find any source that stated that "even as" meant "because," although "as" can mean "because". According to the Oxford Languages Dictionary, "even as" means "at the very same time as." The law also secured wealth for European colonists and generations of their descendants, at the same time as free black people could be legally prohibited from bequeathing their wealth to their children. This latter sentence doesn't seem as logical to me as the former interpretation. Any help is appreciated.

What do you call this noun phrase that also seems misplaced? Posted: 29 Sep 2021 12:00 AM PDT "..., the old cockroach brain summoning a hankering for a Papaya dog, or two." I did a few valedictory laps, counterclockwise, as always, then began chopping my way back uphill, the old cockroach brain summoning a hankering for a Papaya dog, or two. This seems grammatically incorrect. I found it in the New Yorker, and I often see this style in fiction writing. I am curious about what this type of phrase is called. Is it just used for style and rhythm? To me, it feels misplaced. It's referring to the brain of the writer as a young man, but here, it seems like it's referring to "my way back uphill." Side note: I ask because I'd like to know how to use this structure correctly.

Word that means 'able to produce the same amount of output with less input" Posted: 29 Sep 2021 01:04 AM PDT If I improve a process to increase output per input, I can then do two things: increase total output for the same total input maintain total output by lowering total input I'm looking for a word that means the second option. Example: Bob improved our combustion engine performance by X miles per gallon. We are then able to reduce fuel tank size by Y gallons, giving drivers the same range as before. Our vehicle is now more _____. "Efficient" doesn't seem quite right. I would describe the engine as efficient. To me efficiency is about ratio. I'm looking for a word that specifically means changes to total input, contrasting changes to total output: Bob improved our combustion engine performance by X miles per gallon. Our existing fuel tank gives drivers an increased range of Y miles. Our vehicle is now more _____. "Effective" is my best option so far.

What is the phrase that means a quality that is "constant throughout" a larger thing Posted: 29 Sep 2021 07:12 AM PDT I'm trying to say: throughout someone's life, hard work was a constant theme and I was going to use:"his whole life was underscored by hard work" but I'm pretty sure that's not what that means at all and it might not even make sense. Does anyone know what phrase I'm looking for?

Participle Phrases as Adverbs Posted: 29 Sep 2021 02:04 AM PDT I'm teaching my daughter some grammar lessons and ended up a bit confused about how to analyze participle phrases such as "removing his coat" in the following sentence: Removing his coat, Jack rushed to the river. When I was in grammar school, I was taught that participle phrases act exclusively as adjectives. Thus, my first instinct was to say that "removing his coat" is a participle phrase modifying Jack. But upon reflection, this seems a bit odd. "Removing his coat" seems to tell us less about a property of Jack and more about the way he rushed. Thus, it would seem that the participle phrase is adverbial. Moreover, it is possible to move this participle phrase around in the sentence (for example, to the end) without affecting the meaning, which seems like further support for treating it as adverbial. I did some research about the issue and ended up finding a lot of seemingly contradictory information. Many reputable sources seem to support what I was taught in school. For example, one college writing program describes a participle as "a verbal that is used as an adjective" and analyzes "removing his coat" as an adjective. Yet other sources state that participle phrases can be either adverbial or adjectival and suggest that the participle phrase in my example sentence is an adverb. (See, for example here and here.) Here's my question: are there two schools of thought on analyzing participle phrases? Is this one of those cases where prescriptive grammarians think about an issue differently than descriptive linguists? Or is there a nuance I'm missing?

Is this a complex sentence or a compound sentence? Posted: 29 Sep 2021 06:04 AM PDT Below is the original sentence from a book: Such birds do us good, though we no longer take omens from their flight on this side and that; and even the most superstitious villagers no longer take off their hats to the magpie and wish it good-morning. From the meanings of the content, It seems logical to me to interpret it as a complex sentence with a type of concession adverbial clause: Such birds do us good, (though we no longer take omens from their flight on this side and that; and even the most superstitious villagers no longer take off their hats to the magpie and wish it good-morning). However, from the perspective of punctuation marks, it appears that a compound sentence structure is more reasonable. (Such birds do us good, though we no longer take omens from their flight on this side and that) ; and (even the most superstitious villagers no longer take off their hats to the magpie and wish it good-morning). Your feedback is highly appreciated.

Two past perfect verbs in the same sentence Posted: 29 Sep 2021 08:45 AM PDT Both these sentences contain two verbs (correct me if I'm wrong) that are in the past perfect tense. I'd like to ask how do they occur in chronological order. Though my question is related to the one posted here: Two past perfect verbs in the same sentence even though sequence is indicated, having the 3rd verb helped helps establishing that order, which makes it irrelevant in these two cases above (again, correct me if I'm wrong). The Red Cross workers had not expected the refugees from the flooded plain to be as desperate and as undernourished as those whom they had seen earlier in the week. Because negotiations had reached a deadlock, some of the delegates had begun to mutter about breaking off the talks.

In Edsger Dijkstra's quote, meaning of 'the plague' Posted: 29 Sep 2021 02:34 AM PDT "The competent programmer is fully aware of the limited size of his own skull. He therefore approaches his task with full humility, and avoids clever tricks like the plague." [EWD340] I am trying to understand this quote of Edsger W. Dijkstra. I understand that he emphasize to be a good programmer. However, I don't understand the meaning of 'the plague'. General meaning of 'the plague' is ill, but this context says it couldn't be.

'Him or herself' v. 'himself or herself'? Posted: 29 Sep 2021 04:47 AM PDT I was reading this article on the New York Times. This sentence caused me some confusion: But what I'm teaching are topics such as 5th-century Indian theories of logical inference, or the concept of qualitative atomism in classical Buddhism: material that is sufficiently obscure that no student, of any background, should be expected at the outset to recognize him or herself in it. Shouldn't the last part of this sentence be '…himself or herself in it'?

"Shepherding" vs. "sheepherding" Posted: 29 Sep 2021 08:46 AM PDT What is the difference between shepherding and sheepherding (sheep herding?)? What is the difference between shepherd and sheepherder? I had only heard shepherd until I found sheepherder on a page on the California minimum wage.

'Patriotism' is to 'Country' as _______ is to 'City' Posted: 29 Sep 2021 04:42 AM PDT The title's pretty self explanatory! I can't seem to find a word which means exactly this, but I would be amazed if it doesn't exist.

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