Most Popular
1500 questions
36
votes
4 answers
Term for something that is supposed to increase safety, but really just increases fear?
Some examples:
A news station giving daily "terrorist reports". It doesn't actually say how to protect yourself, just gives information on how horrible they are & why you should be afraid.
A airport that forces full body searches. The odds of an…
Tain
- 479
- 4
- 6
36
votes
4 answers
What do we call the “rd” in “3ʳᵈ” and the “th” in “9ᵗʰ”?
Our numbers have a specific two-letter combination that tells us how the number sounds.
For example
9th
3rd
301st
What do we call these special sounds?
OneChillDude
- 471
36
votes
12 answers
Is there a difference between "cheers" and "thanks" in colloquial British English?
In colloquial British English today you hear "Cheers" (to mean "thank you") more often than "Thanks."
Is the choice of one or the other determined by regional, class, or education differences, or is there some vague distinction in meaning or…
Joel Spolsky
- 3,210
36
votes
7 answers
Is the alleged original meaning of the phrase 'blood is thicker than water' real?
I recently read that the phrase "Blood is thicker than water" was originally derived from the phrase "the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb", implying that the ordinary meaning is the opposite of the original…
Matthew Calvin
- 507
36
votes
3 answers
Is it recommended to use "we" in research papers?
Is it recommended to use "we" in research papers? If not, should I always use passive voice?
evergreen
- 3,305
36
votes
2 answers
Why don't we use the indefinite article with 'software'?
Generally, one doesn't use the indefinite article with a noun because it's plural, but sometimes you get nouns where, for some reason, the indefinite article isn't used even though the noun is singular. I would never say 'a software', though it…
Jez
- 12,705
36
votes
5 answers
Why is "math" always pluralized in British English but singular in American English?
In the United Kingdom, I would study maths; but in the United States, I would study math. What gives?
John Berryman
- 1,115
36
votes
2 answers
comprise or comprise of
I have found a similar topic addressing the use of "comprise" but my question is not exactly in line with that one. I did ask this question there to keep the topic related to the use of "comprise" but it was removed since I did not follow protocol.…
NamSandStorm
- 1,130
36
votes
3 answers
Is more than one "nor" after a "neither" correct?
Is it correct to use more than one nor clause in a neither expression? For instance:
Neither the question, nor the answers, nor the comments
Even if it is, is it so rarely used that it would be better to reword the sentence, or is it fine to use…
o0'.
- 583
35
votes
5 answers
Should punctuation surrounding italicised words be italicised?
This might be a tad off-topic, but I am looking for an English-specific answer.
When I’m using italic text to denote emphasis or a quotation, should the italicisation extend to the punctuation surrounding the italicised words? If the punctuation…
Jon Purdy
- 32,386
35
votes
3 answers
"Whole" vs. "entire"
I wonder if there is a difference between the words "whole" and "entire". For example, the following sentences:
I spent my whole life waiting for you.
I spent my entire life waiting for you.
kiewic
- 635
35
votes
1 answer
Is it necessary to use "the" multiple times?
It seems that the question has eventually become a series of questions....
An example goes as:
The 1st and (the) 2nd paragraphs of the article are extremely long.
Another example:
What are the situation, (the) task and (the) result of your…
user3812
35
votes
8 answers
How does one correctly use a semicolon?
How does one correctly use a semicolon? It is probably one of the more difficult punctuation marks to master in my opinion.
Caleb Hearth
- 4,990
35
votes
6 answers
Does apologizing entail recognizing being at fault?
Consider this example:
I'm sorry if you got the impression that I meant to insult you. That was not my intention.
Would it be correct to say that the above person apologized?
All the dictionaries I have checked defined "to apologize" as admitting…
Borror0
- 3,011
35
votes
5 answers
Is “the girls are want to gossip” correct?
Is this the correct use and placement of want?
The girls in the office are want to gossip.
Does anyone have a reference citing this use?
Josephine
- 373