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1500 questions
45
votes
6 answers
What does "arruginated" mean?
From James Joyce's Ulysses:
By inserting the barrel of an arruginated male key in the hole of an unstable female lock, obtaining a purchase on the bow of the key and turning its wards from right to left, withdrawing a bolt from its staple, pulling…
gaazkam
- 817
45
votes
8 answers
What is a less controversial name for the clothing item known as a "wife-beater" in the United States?
In the United States, a white sleeveless shirt is often referred to as a "wife-beater".
Typically I try to avoid using "wife-beater" due to its negative connotation. I've tried using a few different terms in the past, but each felt a bit too broad…
Stevoisiak
- 540
45
votes
5 answers
Replacement for "God forbid"
I wanted to use the phrase "God forbid" the other day, but really wanted to avoid the religious connotations that may come along with it. I was stumped while thinking of a replacement or variation.
I like the way the phrase "flows" or "feels" when…
Mog
- 1,982
45
votes
11 answers
What would you call an operation you can undo?
Designers should favour allowing users to undo a delete operation over confirming it (e.g. GMail lets you undo e-mail deletion instead of asking if you are sure).
What would you call such operation in general? I have used an undoable operation term…
fracz
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45
votes
11 answers
Word for a person who learned something in the past, but is now back down to beginner level?
What do you call a person who learned something a long time ago and now is at the same level in that skill as a beginner would be?
Guy isn't a novice. He isn't a veteran either. He was proficient in the skill long time back and can quickly (faster…
displayName
- 1,899
45
votes
11 answers
What is the most professional name for "squiggly bracket"?
I am creating a software training video and need to refer to these brackets:
{ }
I usually call them "squiggly brackets" or "curly brackets".
Is there a more professional name?
Edward Tanguay
- 14,007
45
votes
7 answers
What is the correct way to use "neither" and "nor" in a sentence together?
Given these facts:
The tool cannot be found in the kitchen.
The tool cannot be found in the bathroom.
Which is the correct sentence to represent the situation above?
I can find the tool neither in the kitchen nor in the bathroom.
I cannot find…
Display Name
- 1,935
45
votes
4 answers
Why do verbs end with "oke" while their corresponding nouns are written with "c"?
I was wondering about this for a while now. Could anyone explain this phenomenon or is it just "English quirks"?
Examples:
invoke/invocation
provoke/provocation
revoke/revocation
Stacky
- 657
45
votes
4 answers
What is the proper way to write the plural of a single letter? Or a word used as a word ('mention' usage)? (another apostrophe question)
When writing (a blog post, script, etc..) what is the proper way to indicate two or more instances of a single letter? For instance, in Monty Python's Bookshop Sketch:
C: I wonder if you might have a copy of "Rarnaby Budge"?
P: No, as I say, we're…
Jedidja
- 745
45
votes
18 answers
A word for a "non-logged in" user
On my website, I allow the user to create a document - but if they aren't logged in, then the document will not have an owner and therefore be editable by anyone.
I want to display a warning for any documents that are editable by anyone to explain…
RoboShop
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45
votes
4 answers
Why is "cupboard" pronounced with a silent "p"?
According to Google at least, the word "cupboard" originated in late Middle English as denoting a board that held cups. Since then, the word has evolved to mean a kind of cabinet.
My question is, given its origin and spelling, why do we pronounce…
BiscuitBaker
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45
votes
13 answers
Does "so called" have a negative connotation in English?
In some languages the word-by-word translation of "so called" usually has a neutral connotation. E.g. in the Czech language you may very often find a sentence like this (word-by-word translated from a Czech newspaper, not a genuine English…
Honza Zidek
- 4,025
45
votes
4 answers
What's the difference between "kind" and "type"?
For example:
This is some type of mushroom.
This is some kind of mushroom.
There are different types of books.
There are different kinds of books.
I think that they are all valid sentences, but somehow I have the impression that a type is a…
Uberto
- 1,302
45
votes
5 answers
What is the reasoning for the idiom "in and of itself" having the meaning it has?
"In and of itself" is a phrase I find myself using all the time. But in and of itself, the phrase "in and of itself" has no meaning. That is, the individual words don't seem to contribute to the whole meaning of the phrase.
Billy ONeal
- 1,940
45
votes
7 answers
Are there any differences between "update" and "upgrade"?
Are there any differences between "update" and "upgrade"?
Yousui
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