Most Popular
1500 questions
53
votes
7 answers
What are the differences between "assume", "presume" and "suppose"
I believe that "assume", "presume", "suppose" are similar in meaning of to take some facts as a truth without proof.
But it seems to me that "presume" is more formal, "assume" is less formal and "suppose" is the most general word for this meaning.…
rem
- 10,331
53
votes
3 answers
When should I use "Would", "Would have", "Will", and "Will have"?
I hope someone, once and for all, can clarify (with examples) the difference in usage of will vs. would vs. would have vs. will have.
Anderson Silva
- 11,259
53
votes
5 answers
Is "flu" the only disease usually accompanied with "the"?
Is "flu" the only disease usually accompanied with "the"? From what I understand, you don't usually use "the" with diseases / illnesses / disorders ("have Alzheimer's / diarrhea / claustrophobia / dyslexia, etc." not "have the..."), but it's…
Vun-Hugh Vaw
- 5,400
53
votes
8 answers
English counterpart to Japanese signal word, “Dokkoisho”
What is an English counterpart to the Japanese signal word, “Dokkoisho” uttered unconsciously in such case as sitting down on the bench?
When you get old, it becomes tough to move your body. We Japanese, particularly old people and the middle-aged…
Yoichi Oishi
- 70,211
53
votes
11 answers
Is the word "repeat" really used as a synonym of "vomit"?
I came across an online English language course where the teacher claimed that if one used the expression "Could you please repeat?" instead of "Could you please repeat that?" over the phone it would be interpreted by the person on the other end of…
Pete S
- 713
53
votes
3 answers
When a sentence starts with "e.g.", should the e be capitalized?
When a sentence starts with e.g., should the e be capitalized?
Neverminding that it might be better to start with "For example," ... Thinking of SE posts and comments, should the starting e be capitalized?
jcolebrand
- 2,517
53
votes
8 answers
Why do we say "try and" [verb] instead of "try to" [verb]? (E.g., "Try and call me tomorrow.")
In written and standard semi-formal (and above) spoken English, one would use "try to":
Try to be a better person.
Try to get the fishhook out of my thumb, please.
Try to find a pharmacy when you need one.
But in spoken English, we (Americans, at…
Robusto
- 151,571
53
votes
13 answers
Does the term "white lie" have racist connotations?
In his book Overcoming our Racism, psychology professor Derald Wing Sue talks about "unconscious racial oppression" that leads well-meaning White people to say and do things that are harmful to people of color. Some examples he gives of this are…
Nicole
- 11,828
53
votes
13 answers
What's the single-word for "left or right handed"?
'Male'/'female' is to 'gender' as 'left-handed'/'right-handed 'is to...?
Is there a word to describe this? For example, if I ask a guy
What's your ____?
It should mean I'm asking whether he's left or right-handed.
Another example could be
Our…
Tushar Raj
- 21,025
53
votes
11 answers
What word defines a category suited for both header and footer?
So there I was, trying to ask a question (now on SO) on Webmaster.SE partly involving a 'header' and a 'footer'. One part of my code defines shared aspects of both the header and the footer.
Anyway to cut a long story short, I became somewhat stuck…
53
votes
4 answers
Is "everyone" singular or plural?
Which is correct?
Everyone were convinced that he would go to the game.
Everyone was convinced that he would go to the game.
I think it's "was", because "everyone" is singular, but I just wanted to check.
Sophie Alpert
- 1,283
53
votes
4 answers
Why is ‘i’ in milk pronounced differently from ‘i’ in find?
As far as I know, in words of the structure CVCC, the vowel is usually short. Examples include milk, front, clamp, wasp, sport, etc.
However, with some CC types, the vowel seems to always be long (kind, mind, old, climb), which surprises me. Why is…
Abdulmajeed Odeh
- 535
53
votes
12 answers
Word for software which has been killed or is no longer supported
When describing a piece of software on a list I have the following information:
SoftwareName
Released: 2013-12-12
????: 2014-12-12
The ???? is like the opposite of Released. Maybe I could use killed (but that is too strong), or no longer supported,…
1478963
- 665
53
votes
5 answers
what is the correct abbreviation for millions, billions and trillions in a financial context?
I've found answers on the web but also got conflicting answers from financial professionals (coworkers).
In metric, you'd use M (mega) for million, G (giga) for billion and T (tera) for trillion. The only financial specific similar abbreviation I…
jcollum
- 824
53
votes
6 answers
The dark dot in your eye
I think every single one of us has experienced a dark dot in his/her sight when looking at a white surface such as a white ceiling, there's something in our eye that with a little focus we can see it, and when we move our eyes around, that thing…
Benyamin Hamidekhoo
- 7,069
- 14
- 41
- 66