Thursday, January 20, 2022

Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

What is the meaning of "make it" here? [closed]

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 09:08 AM PST

Can you help me with the meaning?

"Please dont make it that I have to drive all this way just to see you."

Does it mean :please dont make me drive all this.....?

Is there a term to describe starting a sentence with its intention?

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 08:56 AM PST

This is common in the depiction of monotone robots in sci-fi. For example,

  • "Statement: You are only human, after all."
  • "Reassure: This will only hurt a little."
  • "Question: Why are you in charge again?"

How would one describe this pattern?

"So I have learned."

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 10:00 AM PST

Earlier today I found myself with the desire to use the expression: "So I have learned" in response to someone as a confirmation of recently gained knowledge. My question for you all is whether or not this a correct use of that expression, or if it is even an expression at all.

The flow of the conversation was:

Me - "Hey, what's the best way to do X?"

Them - "I think you'll find it easiest by doing Y. This stuff is really tricky to get right."

Me - "So I have learned. Thanks!"

I could have sworn that "so I have learned" was a commonly used expression, but a quick google search does not yield much for examples like how I used it above, which has left me to wonder if this is even correct.

Thanks.

Potential vs A Potential [duplicate]

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 07:12 AM PST

Are (a) and (b) both grammatically correct and if so how can they both be correct at the same time?

(a) She has potential. (b) She has a potential.

I was always under the impression that (a) was correct and (b) was not but I was told recently that (b) is also valid since potential can be a countable noun, like opportunity, so we can add 'a' in front. However, I thought "a potential" used as a noun would only be correct if it was immediately followed by something like 'for' and 'to' (e.g. "a potential for.." or "a potential to..") which isn't the case here in (a) and (b).

Thanks in advance

Please correct me if there are some mistakes [closed]

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 05:05 AM PST

You know, no animals in the world can work non-stop. Human as well. So we need free time to unwind and let off steam. But what should we do so as not to waste that precious time? I will share with you how I use my spare time. Well, you don't know that I'm a big fan of Disney and Marvel. I usually watch them when I'm free. They are highly entertaining. So monumental and so...funny😂. Besides, they help me master my English. Yes, they can help me master my English. You should watch American movies like me, maybe your English level will also be improved😁. In addition to watching movies, I have another habit. I'm also interested in jpop. Why's not US-UK? Ugh, most of the songs in this genre are pretty strong. It gives me a headache. I feel more comfortable when I listen to a jpop song. So I often listen to or watch videos about this kind of music. They help me feel relaxed. I also take delight in reading stories and novels. Sometimes I read some English short stories. They help me improve my English vocabulary, like watching movies. To sum up, I pointed out three things that I usually do in my leisure time. They are watching movies, listening to music and reading books. How about you? What do you do in your free time? Please share with me and other people. It's time for me to say goodbye. Have a nice one!

Is “slang” slang for “shortened language”? [closed]

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 04:55 AM PST

I'm interested in knowing the etymology of the word "slang". Is slang really a slang for shortened language?

Using the word "inform" as a synonym for "instruct" - Is this wrong?

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 04:24 AM PST

I work in a section of my organization that involves writing of technical documents. Our organization recently put out a policy to avoid using the word "instruct" when referring to our clients as it's deemed as too strong of a word as our clients may see the documents as some point.

Instead, they recommend the use of the word "inform". The word "advise" is an alternative but it is not preferred.

The issue I have is I don't believe it is an exact synonym for instruct and I need to be able to explain exactly why. I've looked through writing guides and I just can't explain in technical detail why it's wrong but my gut tells me. Of course, my gut could very well be wrong.

Example: "Instruct the client to call customer service if they don't receive the email."

We now write that as:

"Inform the client to call customer service if they don't receive the email."

To me, that just seems awkward. I think it's because "inform" means to impart information so it can be a synonym for verbs like "tell" or "instruct" in some cases if it involves imparting information. So having the verb afterwards doesn't make sense to me.

I tried bringing this up but I was referred to a dictionary which lists "tell" as the primary synonym for "inform" and "Tell the client to call customer service" works well.

To me, the sentence should either be written as: "Advise the client to call customer service" or "Inform the client that they must call customer service"

So, is my gut wrong? Is this a valid/unawkward way of writing?

If not, can anyone explain technically what the issue is?

To be + gerund with agent as subject complement

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 04:48 AM PST

My friend asks: why didn't you come to the party last night?

I say: reason was my roommate feeling sick, so I had to stay home and take care of him.

I wonder is it correct to use:

" Subject + to be + gerund with agent (which is subject complement in the sentence) Of course I can use : Reason was my roommate, (who was) feeling sick..... .(non defining)

Which one is correct is phrase? [closed]

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 04:48 AM PST

I was just writing a social media post copy that

Your Ultimate Gateway to Buying Used Mobile Phones.

However, one of my colleagues said that it is supposed to be

Your Ultimate Gateway to Buy Used Mobile Phones.

Can anyone please explain which one is correct with a proper explanation?

Is there any sense in which 'enumerable' is distinct from 'denumerable'?

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 03:34 AM PST

Oxford English Dictionary has

▪ I. enumerable, a. (ɪˈnjuːmərəb(ə)l) [f. enumerate v. + -able.] That can be enumerated; having a definite number; numerable; spec. in Math. = denumerable a. Hence eˈnumerably adv.

Notice that 'spec. in Math. = denumerable', which is the context in which my question arose. I learned enumerable when I was in school and have only just encountered 'denumerable' in a textbook.

denumerable, a. Math. (dɪˈnjuːmərəb(ə)l) [f. denumerate v. + -able. Cf. G. abzählbar, Fr. dénombrable.] Of a set: infinite but countable; capable of being put into a one-to-one correspondence with the set of finite integers or natural numbers; also more widely, either finite or countably infinite; enumerable a. C. S. Peirce used the term in a different sense. Hence deˈnumerably adv.

Is there any daylight between these two terms? It looks like 'enumerable' comes from the English verb 'enumerate', which comes from Latin

II. enumerate, v. (ɪˈnjuːməreɪt) [f. L. ēnumerāt- ppl. stem of ēnumerāre, f. ē out + numerāre to count, f. numerus number.]

whereas 'denumerate' gets its 'de' from French. So did English just end up with two copies of this word?

Using singular or plural nouns and verbs [closed]

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 03:23 AM PST

I am writing a scientific paper and I encountered a problem with singular and plural nouns. Which sentence is correct:

1) The space and time complexity is available.

2) The space and time complexity are available.

3) The space and time complexities are available.

Should you capitalize titles that are questions?

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 03:11 AM PST

In my job, we often have to make technical tutorials either as presentations or videos. Some presentations contain slides where a question is a title or the introductory title. For example:

#27
In a General Sense, What Do You Believe Are Some of the Important Factors to Take Into Consideration When Selecting a Routine Expansion Media for iPSC?

The question is, do we have to capitalize it (as we have it written right now), or is it also correct to write it as a sentence (first letter capital, the rest lowercase)? Currently, we inform our colleagues to follow the APA style of capitalization for every title. However, in this case, it is visually difficult to understand with everything capitalized.

Could someone let us know what is grammatically correct?

Should I use "3 Solutions when" or "3 Solutions to Try when"? [closed]

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 01:31 AM PST

I just want to figure out the topic of an article, should I use

"3 Solutions when Outlook Fails to Open Archive PST File"

or

"3 Solutions to Try when Outlook Fails to Open Archive PST File"

Both seems to be OK, but the latter seems to be a bit verbose. So I just wonder what is the best usage. I search online and find both are seems being used.

To be +gerund with agent

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 01:41 AM PST

Is it correct to say?

It was me working on my car that was causing annoying sounds.

Me working on my car – gerund (with agent) as subject complement.

That was causing annoying sounds – relative clause which modifies "it", which is the subject of our sentence.

How to use the word "avail" with loan? [closed]

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 12:19 AM PST

Is the sentence "A good credit score is crucial to avail a loan." correct? Or should it be "A good credit score is crucial to avail of a loan?" Words like myself/yourself are not to be used.

The usage of word “good” in a sentence [closed]

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 06:23 AM PST

Is it ok to use "good" in following manner?

Check the progress status – if it's pass then you are good.

Should I pronounce little as ['lit(ə)l] or ['lid(ə)l]

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 06:36 AM PST

Since English is not my first language, I watch a lot of online videos to learn the American accent. One day, I learned from Youtube that the little would be pronounced /'lid(ə)l/ by a native American English speaker, but my daughter, who is in grade 3 in California, told me that it should be /'lit(ə)l/.

I am confused with that. Should I pronounce little as /'lit(ə)l/ in California and as /'lid(ə)l/ in the east coast?

Looking for word or phrase for when you look for something over and over in the same places unsuccessfully then find it there when you look again?

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 10:58 AM PST

Is there a word for phrase for when you look for something over and over in the same places unsuccessfully then find it there when you look again?

What is the etymology of "run like a dog"?

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 01:43 AM PST

I've used the phrase "runs like a dog" to mean that my car is on its last legs and can't, sometimes, run anywhere near as fast as a dog can.

Can anyone shed light on where this meaning of the phrase came from?

The Google NGram viewer says that "work like a dog" is much more common.

Is this correct grammar: "[...] cash can't be beat."

Posted: 20 Jan 2022 10:49 AM PST

I found the following phrase in a NYTimes article and I was pretty surprised that it wasn't corrected or edited out: "But when it comes to privacy and freedom, cash can't be beat.".

I am under the impression that this is incorrect grammar and the sentence should actually be "[...] cash can't be beaten." or "[...] you can't beat cash" but definitely not the one used in the article. Am I wrong here?

This sort of grammar is mostly only used in slang in England and I always thought that it was wrong but after a bit of googling, I'm not sure anymore. Is it just another difference between American and British English? I know it's really petty but I'm still interested in the answer!

Article link: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/04/04/bringing-dollars-and-cents-into-this-century/a-shift-toward-digital-currency
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