Thursday, March 31, 2022

Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

Dimension vs. Dimensions for Width and Height

Posted: 31 Mar 2022 05:53 AM PDT

There are two fields on a page: width and height.

They are next to each other and form a group.

Should I name this group Image Dimension or Image Dimensions?

Word used to refer to a part of a spoken sentence

Posted: 31 Mar 2022 05:27 AM PDT

I am looking for a word which means something similar to: "in the sentence you just said, I am making an amendment or contribution". This amendment would be to correct a statement, or answer a question.

I will use the placeholder XXX to refer to the English word, or trick, I am looking for.

I will provide a simple example. If someone said "The sky is purple" I want a word XXX so I can reply with "XXX blue", instead of having to say "In your last sentence regarding the sky being the colour purple, the colour of the sky is blue" which is an overly long way to talk. I know this is a very simple example, but when discussing complicated things it can actually save a lot of time.

In my experience, people use this trick word in the office all the time, but I never really understood it. I think it was originally a lawyer trick, but is is also used frequently in business.

Real life example: I have a real life example of this word being used by a Police Station Representative, which is a lawyer that sits with you during a police interrogation. The lawyer will know in advance the questions the police will ask you, and the order of the questions. I was told to say some English words which made no sense, after the 7th question was asked. I asked the lawyer why I had to speak in such a confusing way. He told me it was to clearly "stick" my answer to a particular part of the police detective's question reducing ambiguity, making it more difficult for my words to be twisted maliciously, and so he did not have to tell me which law, including the sections, he was using to get me out of trouble, otherwise I could tell my friends about this legal loophole costing him customers.

Just a disclaimer: people will also use this word for nasty purposes. Whether this be to mislead you into taking the wrong course of action following a conversation, obfuscate sentences where there is something to hide, or simply leave you utterly confused with what you have been asked to do. I have seen this used by both British English and American English speakers.

Difference between few/ A few [duplicate]

Posted: 31 Mar 2022 03:07 AM PDT

Can you wait a minute? There are few/a few things I have to do before I leave.

What is the best option few or a few? What's the difference?

Can we use an adverbial infinitive within a passive construction?

Posted: 31 Mar 2022 04:46 AM PDT

I have come across the following sentence structure quite often and do not know whether it is correct: Subsequently, X was computed TO ACHIEVE or TO COMPLETE Y. This idea to have an adverbial infinitive follow a passive construction seems to be incorrect since the reverse would be. To achieve Y, X was computed. This example results in a dangling modifier. Does this mean that the initial sentence with "subsequently" is also incorrect, and we have to change it accordingly: Subsequently, X was computed, which resulted in Y?

Word to describe things used in a board game

Posted: 31 Mar 2022 03:40 AM PDT

I was writing about a board game earlier and I initially mistranslated the Spanish word material, which in this refers to everything needed to play the game (cards, the board, the counters, the die...) for the English word material, before I realized that in this context they do not mean the same.

What would be the most appropriate English word for this use?

I'm thinking equipment or maybe attire, but I'd appreciate your suggestions.

Example phrase:

This board game is very old, I hope all of its ______ is/are still in the box.

for those who will study…→for those to study…?

Posted: 31 Mar 2022 06:00 AM PDT

Sample test: "Learn through use" is a good piece of advice for those ______ (study) a new language.

The given answer is studying.

My thread: "studying" is a perfect choice. But I was wondering if "to study" also makes sense, which means "those who will study".

Question: Is "to study" acceptable?

Is there a term for the first page of a journal or diary where personal info is punched in?

Posted: 31 Mar 2022 05:04 AM PDT

Looking for a term (if there is one) for the first page of a journal or personal diary or the page where personal information is filled in.

What word or phrase could describe the reaction one has to a bad joke/pun that they actually find funny?

Posted: 31 Mar 2022 05:21 AM PDT

Basically, how do you describe the feeling you have when you hear a joke that is just terrible but you still laugh, despite hating the fact that you're laughing the entire time? Dad jokes would be a prime example of this.

There are plenty of words that can represent these types of jokes (lame joke, cheesy, dry, etc.) but I'm looking for the reaction of the listener. Any ideas?

Phrase equivalent to "I don't give a damn", not out of place in a 1930s context

Posted: 31 Mar 2022 04:12 AM PDT

I'm looking for a phrase that would mean

I don't give a damn about it

but could be used by a girl in the 1930s. It needs it to be very informal but not vulgar.

How does one properly hyphenate compound adjectives that are locations?

Posted: 31 Mar 2022 03:00 AM PDT

Compound adjectives preceding a noun are hyphenated, but how does one properly hyphenate locations? Please include sources.

E.g.

hyphenated, compound adjective: state-of-the-art technology

city, state compound adjective: Denver, Colorado-based company

location with multiple words: Mountain View, California-based company

example options:

  • Denver-Colorado-based

  • Denver, Colorado-based

  • Denver-, Colorado-, based

  • Denver-based, Colorado-based,
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