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1500 questions
42
votes
4 answers
What word means "the feeling of discomfort caused by watching people's ineptitude"?
I am watching a UK TV programme called "The Apprentice". The candidates have to sell guided tours. Some candidates are terrible at giving these tours. They fluff their lines, or they haven't researched, or they make up "facts".
Watching their…
DanBeale
- 1,898
42
votes
11 answers
Is the usage of 'personally' in 'I personally don't like something' redundant?
What is the difference between the following?
I personally don't like wax museums.
I don't like wax museums.
The adverb personally does not seem to emphasize anything here. Is it redundant?
Enigman
- 594
42
votes
8 answers
Why "go off", as in "alarm went off"?
I was wondering why does something goes off, when it in fact does the opposite
bomb goes off - it blows up
alarm goes off - it turns on
Why not goes on?
Igal Tabachnik
- 595
41
votes
3 answers
Footnote marks at end of a sentence
I find it common in my writing to end up a sentence with a footnote reference mark. Should the footnote mark come before the stop or after it?
... this is some text1.
... this is some text.1
yannisl
- 513
41
votes
4 answers
Meaning of "reach out to somebody"
The dictionary explains this as:
To show somebody that you are interested in them and/or want to help them
The explanation indicates the subject of the sentence is the one that offers help, but I think this one is also correct:
I'll try it…
ZZcat
- 1,717
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41
votes
4 answers
How and when did American spelling supersede British spelling in the US?
Considering that Webster published his first dictionary in 1806, is there a recognised tipping point (year, decade, etc.) that marked the move from traditional British spelling to Webster's American? Was this shift a gradual but chaotic process or…
coleopterist
- 31,031
41
votes
6 answers
Is “of ” necessary in “all of ”?
Listen to all your fans
Name all the states
vs
Listen to all of your fans
Name all of the states
What part of language is of in these examples? Is it necessary or optional, correct or incorrect?
Yarin
- 606
41
votes
8 answers
How is "æ" supposed to be pronounced?
The Encyclopædia Brittanica still uses the symbol "æ". However, I still hear everyone pronounce it as "Encyclo pee dia", when their spelling suggests more along the lines of "Encyclo pah dia" or "encyclo pay dia". In a more general sense, should æ…
Lawton
- 1,184
41
votes
5 answers
Flora, fauna, robot
Are there any terms for referring to robot-kind, as flora refers to plants and fauna to animals?
I'm looking for a word that would fit in with flora and fauna, so if it derives from Latin or Roman mythology that would be ideal. A made-up word would…
sourcenouveau
- 969
41
votes
2 answers
Plural of "syntax"
What is the plural of syntax? Would it be syntacies? What rule would govern this kind of construction?
2NinerRomeo
- 711
41
votes
9 answers
A more appropriate word for feeling "high"?
What is a more formal or appropriate word to replace the word high when writing "feeling high"?
By feeling "high", I don't mean the person has to be smoking weed or taking crack. So the person is not in a trance, feeling dizzy or feeling…
xenon
- 1,623
41
votes
10 answers
English equivalent of Vietnamese "Rather kill mistakenly than to miss an enemy."
There was a Vietnamese political leader who said during the war, "Thà giết nhầm còn hơn bỏ sót," which translates to "Rather kill mistakenly than to miss an enemy."
I'm wondering if there is a similar saying to capture the spirit. Sayings like…
Cat Mai
- 521
41
votes
6 answers
Types of things vs. types of thing
When speaking precisely or technically, one would say that "Homo erectus and homo sapiens are two species of hominid" rather than "Homo erectus and homo sapiens are two species of hominids." The hominid here should be singular because we are…
Robusto
- 151,571
41
votes
2 answers
What was the crime described as "letting out of ponds" during Elizabethan England?
During Elizabethan England, "letting out of ponds" was a crime:
In like sort in the word felony are many grievous crimes contained, as
[...], stealing of whatsoever cattle, robbing by the high way, upon
the sea, or of dwelling houses, letting…
HeyJude
- 857
41
votes
4 answers
What are the specific parts of eating utensils called?
A knife has a handle and a blade. A spoon has a handle and a... Bowl? A fork has a handle and... Spikes? Prongs?
I guess this can be extended to more esoteric cutlery such as sporks.
Adam Barnes
- 519