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1500 questions
74
votes
11 answers
Derogatory word, describing person (a pupil) who memorizes instead of learning?
Apologies if I am asking something that is well known, but I am not a native English speaker, and I could not find an answer so far.
In my native language, there exists a (derogatory) word for pupils, who strive to get high grades by literally…
xmp125a
- 808
74
votes
14 answers
Is there a polite alternative to "No thanks, I'm full"?
English is not my native language, but when I was studying in the US, I was always trying to find an alternative to
I'm full!
I felt that it was a very improper way to express that I have eaten enough, especially when I was invited for dinner. I…
Sebastian
- 773
74
votes
14 answers
What is the correct word for "dependee"?
What is the correct word for "dependee"?
In other words, what is the word for something that is depended upon? The relationship here is in the context of software engineering
Louis Rhys
- 3,458
74
votes
2 answers
Is 'at the time of writing' correct?
I am writing a technical document and I need to refer to the current point of time. Should I say 'at the time of writing', 'at the time of this writing', or 'at the time of writing this'? Are all acceptable?
Chong Lip Phang
- 861
74
votes
4 answers
"Relation" versus "relationship"
What is the difference between relation and relationship?
Some say that relationship often refers to social connections. For instance,
She has a close relationship with her daughter.
How about the following?
the relationship between poor housing…
Fountain
- 1,463
74
votes
2 answers
"Content" or "Contents"?
Content or contents — when do I use which form?
I realize that the one is the plural form of the other, but they seem to be used interchangeably.
Tomalak
- 2,187
73
votes
6 answers
"It really doesn't matter" v "It doesn't really matter"
I can't distinguish the difference in meaning between these two sentences.
It really doesn't matter.
It doesn't really matter.
It seems that there is a nuanced difference, but I cannot see what this is.
user262410
- 863
73
votes
3 answers
"Time zone" vs. "Timezone"
My spell checker shows that both "time zone" and "timezone" are correctly spelled. Which one of these is the correct one to use?
Senseful
- 2,259
73
votes
6 answers
Has 'fat chance' always been used sarcastically or was it once a factual term?
That 'fat chance' means 'a small chance' (and is always used sarcastically) is clear to me. But what I was wondering about is if the term used to be factual and then changed meaning because it started to be used in a sarcastic way, or has it always…
gctwnl
- 781
73
votes
5 answers
How did the letter Z come to be associated with sleeping/snoring?
In cartoons and comics it's not uncommon to see a series of Z's to indicate that a person is in deep slumber, such as in the following political cartoon.
(source: Berkeley Daily Planet)
How and when did the letter Z come to be associated with…
Scott Mitchell
- 4,496
73
votes
2 answers
"Dear Sir or Madam" versus "To whom it may concern"
When is it appropriate to use the terms Dear Sir or Madam and To whom it may concern? The rules I was taught state that Dear Sir or Madam should be used when you're writing a letter to a person about something that person has direct involvement in…
Pops
- 5,975
73
votes
6 answers
Is "Is it a girl or a boy?" really calling the infant an "it"?
So, my boss comes in, railing that "English is a stupid language!" Since this is pretty much a thrice-weekly occurrence 'round these parts, I barely raised an eyebrow, and waited for him to continue.
"Mary just wrote to tell us that she's back from…
Marthaª
- 32,910
73
votes
5 answers
Should I put myself last? "me and my friends" vs. "my friends and me" or "my friends and I"
I've always been taught to put myself last when referring to myself in the same sentence as others but the usage of "me and..." seems to be everywhere these days. The misuse of the word "me" instead of "I" aside, is there some new rule I haven't…
soutarm
- 1,453
72
votes
3 answers
Difference between "scheme" and "schema"
What is the difference between scheme and schema? Where do you use one and not the other?
schema
a diagram, plan, or scheme. Synonyms: outline, framework, model.
an underlying organizational pattern or structure; conceptual framework: A schema…
znq
- 821
72
votes
2 answers
Etymology of "fairy"
All the standard dictionaries--with the notable exception of the OED--seem to trace the etymology of fairy through Old French fae to Latin fata, meaning "the fates" or "the goddess of fate". As a classical languages major with primary focus on…
Valerie Voigt
- 443