Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

Is there a direct antonym to affirm?

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 10:52 AM PST

I've seen affirm defined as "To say that something is true in a confident way." I've looked at various antonyms, and antonyms of synonyms of affirm and none seem appropriate. I'm wondering if there's a word that would be defined as, "To say that something is false in a confident way."

I also know that you can "affirm" a negative, but I'm looking to use affirm along with this other word similar to the way confirm/deny are used together.

What is the difference between annexation and accession? [closed]

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 11:03 AM PST

In a Wikipedia discussion about the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation 'User:力' says:

For the record, if you ask the Russians, they would say that Accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation is the correct name, but the Russians don't get to pick the article title here -- and English language sources prefer "annexation".

The implication of this is that the word accession has a more positive connotation than annexation does.

Question: If indeed the current Russian government did consider their acquisition (to use a more neutral term) an accession, why might that be a less negative connotation than annexation in their opinion?

To clarify, this isn't a question about politics per se, about Crimea, Russia, or any other political situation. Nor is it an attempt to actually interpret what some alleged "Russian" or "Western" opinion may or may not be. It's about the subtleties in meaning between the words annexation and accession in the context of politics.

This also begs the question: is accession even a term used in other political discussions? Could it just be that 'User:力' has some unique opinion of the subtleties of the words?

Style/structure question for a sentence - word order [closed]

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 10:00 AM PST

I need help in structuring the sentence in the in the 2nd paragaph , which of the 3 options would sound best?

It was almost as if something in then had reverted back to the days when their Magyar ancestors had roamed and pillaged the Eurasian steppe and occasionally engaged in human sacrifice to the old gods.

Option 1

This time the human sacrifice was not of a religious nature, but just an orgiastic festival of bloodlust and anger.

Option 2

The human sacrifice this time was not of a religious nature, but just an orgiastic festival of bloodlust and anger.

Option 3

This human sacrifice was not of a religious nature, but just an orgiastic festival of bloodlust and anger.

she did do or did she do?

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 09:41 AM PST

I have an assignment to combine sentences using the given correlative conjunction

She did well on her English test. She got an A on her Statistics. (not only....but also)

So which one is the correct answer?

Not only did she do well on her English test, but also she got an A on her Statistics.

or

Not only she did do well on her English test, but also she got an A on her Statistics.

Is there a better way to phrase this part of a paragraph? [closed]

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 07:18 AM PST

Evidence: According to the CDC, "In 2019, almost 2,400 teens in the United States aged 13–19 were killed 1,2 and about 258,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor vehicle crashes." This means that every day, about seven teens died due to "accidents", and hundreds more were injured.

What I need help with: That means that every day, about seven teens die due to accidents, and hundreds more are injured. Are teens just stupid? Using the analogy that "just being" a teen negatively affects decision making I am going to answer this question throughout this passage.

I would like a full revision if possible and plausible...

What is the meaning of "out of your own hides"?

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 07:04 AM PST

Van de Ven & Poole (1990) use the expression "out of their own hides" when discussing research funding. A google search only returns two results. Is this expression idiomatic? What does it mean? The following is an excerpt from their text (emphasis mine):

(...) our experience has been that over the duration of a longitudinal study, nearly every hour of field work requires an equal hour of homework, with the latter occupying increasing proportions of time in the autumn of the research. Using MIRP as an example, this paper will focus on how researchers might spend their hours more creatively and efficiently in performing this homework. This homework tends to represent the less visible, more "introverted," less socially rewarding, yet often more technically complex and creative "back room" work of longitudinal research. Researchers must often support this homework "out of their own hides," because funding and resources to support it are seldom adequate and difficult to obtain.

References

Van de Ven, A. H., & Poole, M. S. (1990). Methods for studying innovation development in the Minnesota Innovation Research Program. Organization science, 1(3), 313-335.

"all/only too" vs "far/much too"

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 08:15 AM PST

There are a lot of collocations with "too" that show different extents of something: a little too, a bit too, rather too, far too, much too, etc

But there are two collocations that, as I was told, stand alone: "all too" and "only too". Here are several definitions of "all/only too" from the dictionaries:

collinsdictionary.com: You use "all too" or "only too" to emphasize that something happens to a greater extent or degree than is pleasant or desirable.

macmillandictionary.com: used for emphasizing that you wish that something did not happen so much or that something was not true

ldoceonline.com: used to emphasize that a particular situation exists when you wish it did not exist

Looking at these definitions, I begin thinking that "all/only too" is the same as "far too" or "much too". But I was told that it is not so and, for example, the next sentence should be left with "far too":

(1) She was wearing a coat that was far too big for her. — initial variant

(2) She was wearing a coat that was all too big for her. — if we replace "far" with "all"

(3) She was wearing a coat that was only too big for her. — if we replace "far" with "only"

Could you explain to me:

  • why, based on the definitions of "all/only too", I cannot make up (2) & (3) that would be supposed to mean the same as (1)
  • what the difference is between "all/only too" and "far/much too"

Thanks!

What would you use as a parallel word for configuration? [closed]

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 05:31 AM PST

I am looking to compare or complement the word configuration.

For example:

This is what is configured today and this is the <result of this configuration>.

Where I want to use a self explanatory word instead of "result of this..."

What is the meaning of : "I've got it translated?" [closed]

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 05:10 AM PST

I want to send someone the translation of a document. I want to tell him that I gave the document to a third person, and that third person translated the document for me, and now I'm sending it to you. Can I simply say "I've got it translated"? I want him to get my point that I didn't do the translation myself. Any suggestions? Preferably only one sentence.

Word order in a sentence with two question clauses [duplicate]

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 04:14 AM PST

Which one is correct? And why?

Would you be so kind to inform me when should I expect a payment?

or

Would you be so kind to inform me when I should expect a payment?

“convert_values_to_string” or “convert_values_to_strings” [closed]

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 08:05 AM PST

In the end, each value will be a string.

I'm always confused.

Should I use "convert_values_to_string" or "convert_values_to_strings".

NOTE: The values are stored in an array.

What is the correct name for a value to be used when an invalid value is given

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 04:34 AM PST

"default value" if often used to mean "The value to use when no value has been given" (see: Is "default" used for "a value used when nothing has been explicitly set" outside of IT world?)

I think there's a similar word to mean "The value to use when an invalid value has been given"

Notice the subtle but important difference: not given ↔ given but not valid

I think it may be the "fault value", but as I'm not finding any reference to it's use, I'm dubious about it.

Clarification:

It would be the right word to use in the following process description:

Return x if x is in the range (BEGIN, END) or the <MISSING_WORD> value if not

Here "default value" is not correct because the value to be returned in this case is not necessarily one to be used. It might perfectly be a value that indicates that an erroneous input was given. And then, it might also be a value to be used, thus discarding the invalid input. In both cases "<MISSING_WORD> value" must be correct.

How to formally ask about good dates and times for an interview? [closed]

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 11:07 AM PST

I'm currently writing a message to inquire about possible times for a job interview, but I don't know how to form the sentence without it sounding awkward or tacky. All I can come up with is something along the lines "I would like to know whether or not it would be possible to hold the interview at (dates and times)" but it feels so odd and a bit tacky. Thank you in advance:)

Those who / Anyone who / Whoever

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 05:19 AM PST

Since in English it is not possible to start sentences similar to this with a Who, I would like to know if Those who, Anyone who and Whoever are interchangeable. Also, which one is the best one in a formal text (that is not gender neutral).

Those who say that don't know what they are talking about.

Anyone who says that doesn't know what he is talking about.

Whoever says that doesn't know what he is talking about.

What is meant by deteriorated abyss? [closed]

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 09:51 AM PST

Does this sentence mean anything? If yes, then what does it mean?

But our inward eye keeps rummaging the deteriorated abyss.

As much as i can understand the sentence says- "Our soul keeps looking here and there for the worsened nothingness." I dont understand what does deteriorated nothingness(or abyss) mean here. And are the nothingness and abyss same thing?

Precise meaning of ‘adopted to general enthusiasm’ in this context?

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 06:12 AM PST

I am confused by that 'to' after 'adopted'. I know the meaning of adopted: embrace, take on, accept, choose, select, … But adopted is often used with 'by' or 'as' or used by itself alone.

Examples:

  • That was adopted by them.
  • They adopted a baby.
  • He was adopted as the new manager.

So I wonder if 'to' in the following context should be taken as connected to 'general enthusiasm'. But then what is the meaning of the whole phrase? Does it mean that it is adopted in support of general enthusiasm? Does it mean it is adopted amongst general enthusiasm? What exactly is the meaning of the 'to' in this context?

Over the same five-year period, the global political landscape underwent equally dramatic changes. Donald Trump's rise to power in the United States in 2016, Jair Bolsonaro's in Brazil in 2019 and the Brexiteers' victory in the United Kingdom in June 2016 are the clearest signs in a series of events often seen as marking the disinte- gration of the liberal order. Pretty much across the world, a movement back towards entrenched borders and social conservatism has created a loose alliance between those who have lost out in the process of globalization and are now desperately in search of new protectors, and the economic elites who are determined to force nations to compete with one another so as to preserve capital accumulation. Earlier, however, the Paris Agreement, adopted to general enthusiasm in December 2015, had foreshadowed the emergence of a new kind of diplomacy aimed at bringing the concert of nations into the era of climate change awareness. Despite the weaknesses that underlay this agreement, it was this attempt to forge a bond between diplomatic cooperation and climate policy that was attacked by the new masters of chaos: there was no question of founding a world order on any limitation of the economy

Can you please edit my informal letter? I want to be an upper independent English (B2). Thank you very much [closed]

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 01:10 AM PST

How is it going recently? I apologize for not writing back to you sooner.

I was very delighted to hear that your family will visit me this September. This is a coastal city, so we have many things to do, hope you can stay longer to do all of those. First, we can go climbing, reach the peak of Tan Da mountain where we can enjoy a breathtaking view, or take some photograph and post it on your social media, like young people always do nowadays. Then, we can go to the market and try various local cuisine, including fried salmon, steamed crab... Last but not least, we can take a walk along the shore if you are of that lifestyle or participate in some extreme sports such as parasailing or surfing, or just take a dip and enjoy the crystal water.

The temperature is still quite high in September although it is cool in the morning and at late night. You can take several woolen items along with lots of bikinis and beautiful dresses for hanging out.

I should stop writing here, hope to see you soon. Do not forget to write me back.

Best wishes.

You [adjective] vs you are [adjective] [closed]

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 07:34 AM PST

I've been wondering, why sometimes you don't say the verb in sentences, like "you stupid" instead of "you're stupid" or even "you are stupid"? What does it change? Is this make your sentence slang if you don't say the verb? And it doesn't work with every sentences, right?

Where does the term "bucket" in cloud storage come from?

Posted: 24 Jan 2022 09:43 PM PST

In Amazon S3, Google Cloud storage, etc., they refer to containers that hold data as buckets.

I was curious where this originated from. The closest I could find was maybe bit bucket maybe referring to the fact you can store anything in it. Any other insights as to the origin would be appreciated.

Please explain the meaning of this quote

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 12:25 AM PST

Please explain the meaning of the boldfaced part of the following quote from The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne:

One day when Pooh Bear had nothing else to do, he thought he would do something, so he went round to Piglet's house to see what Piglet was doing. It was still snowing as he stumped over the white forest track, and he expected to find Piglet warming his toes in front of his fire, but to his surprise he saw that the door was open, and the more he looked inside the more Piglet wasn't there.

" Across " In the sense of hierarchies

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 04:05 AM PST

What does it mean to pick someone "across" the dominance hierarchy?

Does it mean that someone picks a partner with the same social status and circumstances and not below or above?

Example sentence: " females mate up and across the dominance hierarchy "

Link to the content:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7LN14IpVy0

I know what up means in this context but I am not sure if across means just what I believe it does.

Thank you!

Is "taking liberties with something" always disapproving?

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 09:48 AM PST

The expression "to take liberties with something" are defined by different dictionaries as follows:

to make important and unreasonable changes to something, especially a book (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary)

to make unreasonable changes in something such as a piece of writing (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)

to change something, especially a piece of writing, in a way that people disagree with (Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)

I wonder if the expression is always disapproving. I mean if someone, for example, says that Kurosawa took liberties with Shakespeare's Macbeth, are they actually disapproving of Kurosawa's action? Can't we use it when we are approving of his audacious adaptation? For example,

Akira Kurosawa was audacious enough to take liberties with Shakespeare's Macbeth and set the story in feudal Japan.

What's the meaning of the mentioned sentence?

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 05:03 AM PST

That the seller has given clear understanding and guarantee at the time of this agreement that the said property is free from all encumbrances, attachments such as mortgage, gift, will, exchange, court injunction, disputes, stay, court decrees, lease, family or religious dispute or any other registered or unregistered encumbrance and attachment etc. In case of any proof, the seller will be liable and responsible for the same.

What is the meaning of the last line in this paragraph. It would be helpful if someone would make me understand the last line simply in context of the whole paragraph.

"He would have done anything you [would ask/would have asked/had asked] him to"

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 10:01 AM PST

I want to say "He'll do anything you ask him to" but in the past tense, as that was the case 10 years ago, but he's not like that anymore. Which of the following should I use?

  1. He would have done anything you would ask him to!
  2. He would have done anything you would have asked him to!
  3. He would have done anything you had asked him to!

Which is correct or otherwise preferable?

Coordinating conjunctions in translation of Kafka

Posted: 25 Jan 2022 10:51 AM PST

I read this NPR article about sentence diagramming in an English translation of Kafka's Metamorphosis, and I redisplay this example here:

Example

My question's focus is on the writer's comma usage (actually omission) specifically the "joining comma" (and not anything about diagramming, as the article covered).

Reiterating the sentence in question:

As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a monstrous vermin.

I'm only trained in "FANBOY" joining comma and noticed that this example is missing a comma.

Is this one of those coordinating conjunctive scenario that can work with or without a comma separating two complete sentences?

I'm also told that the following works as well:

It happens it goes.

and

It happens, it goes.

Is there a verb to describe opening a can with a tab?

Posted: 24 Jan 2022 11:59 PM PST

Is there a verb in the English language that describes the act of opening a can with a tab (like soda, for example). The closest I can get is "cracked open", but I'd like something more concise.

What about in other languages?

Origin of "to have a cow"

Posted: 24 Jan 2022 09:39 PM PST

The phrase "to have a cow" is defined as "to be very worried, upset, or angry about something" in Free Dictionary Online.

Other sources also define it to mean to react very strongly and emotionally. While it almost always is a negative response to stressful news or events, I imagine it might be used under other more positive circumstances.

Many may have become recently acquainted with this expression from "The Simpsons" TV show, as "Don't have a cow" is a catchphrase of the character Bart Simpson.

This source says, without reference, that the phrase is said to have originated in the 1950s, and also may related to the British phase "to have kittens" (Phrase Finder).

My interest was piqued when I was acquainted with some of Gertrude Stein's writings from the movie "Paris Was a Woman". In particular, "A Book Concluding With As a Wife Has a Cow: A Love Story", published in Paris in 1926, (Google Books) caught my attention. The analyses that I heard say that there is little doubt from the context that "to have a cow" equated to having an orgasm. One summary of that analysis appears here.

My question comes down to whether Stein's metaphor is the origin of the phrase as it is currently used. It seems possible that the meaning of "an extreme, emotional reaction" might fall somewhere in the evolutionary path between Stein's usage and the current one. (It's also possible that she simply created a double entendre from an existing phrase.) What I've covered so far doesn't necessarily mean there is a relationship between Stein's metaphor and the more current expression, but it does look like a possibility.

I don't have a good understanding how to pursue this question any further. What I have seen about the origins (as cited above) is that they don't seem to be very certain, and only agree to a possibility about its provenance.

Is Stein's usage related to the current meaning? If so, how did it evolve? How did it come to be associated more with negative reactions. If it originated before Stein used it, what is the source?
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