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1500 questions
63
votes
7 answers
What is the difference between dialogue and dialog?
I am American, and I always thought the difference between dialogue and dialog was one of meaning, the way Merriam-Webster has them listed:
2 entries found:
dialogue (noun)
dialog box (noun)
According to Merriam-Webster, dialogue means…
Nicole
- 2,198
63
votes
6 answers
Use of 'as per' vs 'per'
I've read and have heard of both 'as per' and 'per' being used conversationally, both with the same connotation of either 'according to' or 'on authority of'
Examples:
"Tell Ron to start molding new rollers for the mecanum wheels, as per me"
"Per…
63
votes
14 answers
More formal way of saying: "Sorry to bug you again about this, but ..."
I was wondering if there was a more formal and polite way of saying:
Sorry to bug you again about this, but we still have not received a response about X ....
(if we still have not received any assistance with X)
or
Sorry to bug you again about…
Amelio Vazquez-Reina
- 2,005
63
votes
4 answers
What are the rules for splitting words at the end of a line?
What are the rules in English language to split words at the end of a line?
Where exactly must the hyphen split the word?
Mehper C. Palavuzlar
- 35,654
63
votes
7 answers
When did it become correct to add an “s” to a singular possessive already ending in “‑s”?
According to my grammar book, but at variance to the answer to this question, the correct singular possessive if a word ends in ‑s is:
James’s car
The grammar book allows exceptions for historical nouns, so the examples in the answer to the…
Andrew Stacey
- 732
63
votes
3 answers
"Doctor's appointment" or "doctors appointment"?
I've looked this up online, but I can't find any explanations from reasonably credible sources, so I'm posting my question here! (Was that a comma splice?)
Should I refer to the appointment that I made with my doctor as a "doctor's appointment" or…
boo-urns
- 855
63
votes
8 answers
Distinction: "What can I do you for?" vs. "What can I do for you?"
Usually, when being served the phrase "What can I do for you?" is used but sometimes I also hear "What can I do you for?" in quite the same context. So is there a difference or is it just a slip of the tongue?
Edit I also heard it amongst others in…
mbx
- 870
63
votes
25 answers
Is there a secular, non vulgar alternative to "for heaven's sake"?
I know for heaven's sake, for Pete's sake, for God's sake and for Christ's sake. All of those, however are religious references. The only non-religious equivalent phrases I know are for fuck's sake and its variations.
Are there any non-vulgar,…
terdon
- 21,559
63
votes
2 answers
"provide" vs. "provide with"
I am wondering if the following sentence is correct:
We add the information their study provides with to our article.
The context is: their study provides with some information. And we add the information to our article.
I want to keep the word…
SoftTimur
- 895
63
votes
5 answers
Why are there so few English words that begin with the letter X?
If one reads a lot of children's books, it is obvious that X is a real thorn in the side for those authors looking to have each letter of the alphabet represented in their books. Most of them either cop out with X-ray, or they make up fake…
DQdlM
- 1,578
63
votes
9 answers
Data pronunciation: "dayta" or "dahta"?
I hear "dayta" more often, but what's the correct pronunciation?
Infinity
- 749
62
votes
3 answers
"Agree on" vs. "agree with" vs. "agree to"
What are the differences between "agree on", "agree with" and "agree to"?
Vinoth Kumar C M
- 897
62
votes
6 answers
Why is “disabled“ preferred over “handicapped”?
The question may be too opinion based and highly contentious.
However, as a non native speaker with a serious disability, I have great trouble grasping why “disabled“ is supposed to be much better than “handicapped“. When I hear “handicapped“ I…
Ludi
- 731
62
votes
9 answers
Is it ever worth the time and effort to correct someone else's grating grammatical mistakes?
Whenever I hear statements like "It was a great deal for he and I" and "Call Karen and I in the morning," I die a little. Such solecisms, as Twain said in another context (Cooper's prose style), "grate upon the fastidious ear." Moreover, I know that…
Robusto
- 151,571
62
votes
5 answers
Are there any words I can use to disambiguate "biweekly"?
We have two words for events occurring in periods of years - biannual meaning twice a year, and biennial meaning once every two years.
However, my colleagues talk about having meetings biweekly. This causes a lot of confusion, since it can mean…
Lunivore
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