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1500 questions
56
votes
3 answers
Does OP mean “original poster” or “original post”?
In an online forum, OP means "original poster," but can it also mean "original post?"
For example, instead of saying
To answer the OP's original question...
could one instead say
To answer the question in the OP...
or would this be an improper…
Vyren
- 876
56
votes
6 answers
Is “either” only used with two options?
Does “either . . . or” apply to only two options?
For example, can I say, “It can provide either 100, 150, or 400 amps of power”? Or should it just be “It can provide 100, 150, or 400 amps of power”?
Mark
- 4,836
56
votes
9 answers
Is the term 'String' too jargony to use in a user interface?
Having worked as a software developer for a long time, I'm out of touch sometimes with whether a word would be considered jargon.
I am adding something to a user interface where a name is given, and a type. The type would be one of Number, Date, or…
Shawn D.
- 1,173
56
votes
3 answers
"Inputted" or "input"
I have used the word inputted in an assignment and am being forced to change it to input. However, both the Oxford English Dictionary (I am in New Zealand so this is most relevant) and MS Word list inputted as acceptable. Do others regard inputted…
benkluge
- 575
56
votes
7 answers
Which is correct: "troubleshooted" or "troubleshot"?
Troubleshooted is not a word, but troubleshot is.
Is this really the correct word to use?
I always feel like saying:
I troubleshooted it.
vs
I troubleshot it
For some reason, it just doesn't sound right to me.
JD Isaacks
- 1,615
56
votes
18 answers
What is less harsh than "brainwashing"?
The word brainwashing, which has existed in English since circa 1950, may have had its origins in the Chinese Communist Revolution of 1948. It involved the use of extreme methods, the process known as re-education in camps etc.
I think most people…
WS2
- 64,657
56
votes
1 answer
Why "meth-", "eth-", "prop-", when there is "uni-","di-","tri-"?
In chemistry, the homologous series for hydrocarbons uses the following prefixes:
Meth-
Eth-
Prop-
But-
Pent-
Hex-
Hept-
Oct-
Why are these prefixes used, instead of just using "uni-", "di-", "tri-"?
I looked up the prefixes, but there is no…
Thursagen
- 41,919
56
votes
8 answers
What is a "prize" for last place called?
I'm having one of those moments where I can't think of the word.
In some contests where prizes are awarded, there are prizes for first, second, and third place. Then, there is a "____" prize given for last place.
What word am I having difficulty…
DoubleDouble
- 872
56
votes
4 answers
On vs At with date and time
This must be a simple question for a native speaker.
I know that we use "on" with dates: I'll see you on January 1st.
And we use "at" with times: I'll see you at 17:30.
But what preposition has to be used when we speak for date and time:
I'll see…
Miroslav Popov
- 671
56
votes
3 answers
What is the purpose of using the word "why" in "why, thank you"?
I sometimes have heard somebody replying with Why, thank you. instead of Thank you.
What is the meaning of the first phrase? What is the difference between the two phrases?
apaderno
- 59,185
56
votes
6 answers
"jury-rigged", or "jerry-rigged"
As far back as I can remember, the usage went something like "Their jury was rigged, and that's how he got away." Or, "They Jerry-rigged the controller at the last moment and it worked!"
I used to cringe every time I saw something being jury-rigged,…
Raj More
- 1,524
56
votes
8 answers
Polite alternative to the term "bitch" when referring to a female dog
I'm writing an example of constructing logic, and I need to differentiate between an adult female dog, an adult male dog and a puppy and am searching for polite terms.
Unfortunately, the word "bitch" has impolite connotations, so I'd rather not use…
user53089
56
votes
3 answers
What is the etymology of “yellow”, and why is it so different in other European languages?
It seems like most of our names for colors come from our German roots (blue/blau, green/grün, red/rot, etc.). But yellow is gelb in German, amarillo in Spanish, jaune in French, and giallo in Italian. I suppose the Italian seems closest, but perhaps…
Sebastian Good
- 711
55
votes
3 answers
"Amount" vs. "number" vs. "quantity"
For what values of x does one write the number of x, the amount of x, or the quantity of x?
SLaks
- 1,799
55
votes
2 answers
"X times as many as" or "X times more than"
Suppose John has 5 sweets. Is there any difference between the following two sentences?
Jack has 3 times as many sweets as John.
Jack has 3 times more sweets than John.
I prefer the first construction and would know unambiguously that Jack has 15…
user2683