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1500 questions
39
votes
10 answers
What do you call a person who is always online on the Internet?
Is there any specific word for a person who is always online on the Internet?
I am just curious to know because staying online is like a profession nowadays.
Abid
- 1,148
39
votes
6 answers
Why do we say "I win" instead of "I won"?
For a long time I was wondering why there is I win instead of I won. I met such usage in a lot of games and movies.
For me, it's logical to say I won, because this winning action is done already. I win for me seems like I'm winning right now.
Can…
arteg
- 493
39
votes
2 answers
Origin and evolution of "hapless"
I would like to know what the origin of hapless is.
For example,
He is a hapless person
means
He is an unfortunate person.
Has it got anything to do with the fact that hapless people live their lives with no good things hap-pening to them? Was…
yahoo301503
- 811
39
votes
6 answers
The intensifier 'pure D': where and when did it originate, and what does the D stand for?
A posting in my Facebook timeline today began "I've been sorting boxes of Pure D-Crap." The poster was writing from Alameda, California (near San Francisco). It struck me that I hadn't heard "pure D" used as an intensifier in at least 25 years—and…
Sven Yargs
- 163,267
39
votes
1 answer
Singular or plural noun preceding "count"
If I were to keep a ledger of the number of activities I have completed, would that be an "activities count" or an "activity count"?
Madbreaks
- 491
39
votes
23 answers
What is the verb for criticizing someone (especially juniors) in an annoying way?
I am looking for a verb (or a phrase) to describe a situation that someone criticizes you in an annoying and constant way. For example, an elder in your family (mostly in conservative environments) might criticize your outfit or your make-up. The…
Mehdi Haghgoo
- 2,808
39
votes
3 answers
How to pronounce "720p" and "1080p"
How do you pronounce 720p and 1080p?
Because I don't live in a country that uses English, I haven't heard it yet.
I guess it doesn't have a rule.
seven hundred twenty p
seven twenty p
seventy two zero p
What's the one which most people use? And…
Benjamin
- 1,829
39
votes
9 answers
"I sightsaw London." Is this correct?
Is the following phrase correct?
I sightsaw London/the museum.
masterkomp
- 575
39
votes
4 answers
"you" versus "You" as polite form of writing
Is it correct to write "You" with a capital Y as a form of politeness?
If yes, should I use that form throughout the entire letter/document, or only at specific places?
Helena
- 399
39
votes
6 answers
Usage of "many" vs "many a"?
Can someone please elucidate the difference between "many" and "many a"? In what context of usage should we add an extra "a" beside the word "many"?
For example:
Many times, I had seen that . . . .
Many a times, I had seen that . . . .
I do not…
Vamsi Emani
- 1,735
39
votes
10 answers
What is an appropriate response to "what's up" greeting?
Sorry if it's a trivial question, but when someone uses what's up as a greeting I have no idea what they want to hear. What are the possible answers and what does this question mean exactly?
serg
- 5,101
39
votes
4 answers
I don't have a ___ in this ___ (saying)
Earlier this evening, I was trying to tell someone, "I don't care who wins the Superbowl this year. I don't have a-"
I could't remember how to complete this saying (to mean I don't have a personal interest in the outcome of a particular contest,…
miltonaut
- 2,097
39
votes
8 answers
The hidden flaw in "singular they"—what to do about reflexive pronouns?
We have a highly regarded answer by nohat to a question about gender-neutral pronouns, in which he points to the "singular they" and its long history of use in English. (Note that he also advises against using it.) Example:
If someone wants to…
Robusto
- 151,571
39
votes
14 answers
Gender-neutral alternative to "craftsmanship"?
It's straightforward to refer to a "craftsperson" instead of a "craftsman" if one doesn't want to imply a gender. But "craftspersonship", "sportspersonship", and the like seem pretty cumbersome. Is there a more elegant alternative?
Cai
- 712
39
votes
8 answers
Do "in future" and "in the future" imply different meanings?
Do in future and in the future imply different meanings? If so, using which one is grammatically correct?
Mysterion
- 7,328