English Stack Exchange
English Stack Exchange

Most Popular

more tags
1500 questions
99
votes
23 answers

Idiom for someone who buys all the best gear to do something before they even have a basic proficiency?

I'm looking for an idiom to describe someone who decides to take up a new hobby, then buys an excessive amount of gear before they've even started. Perhaps they believe they need this gear to master the hobby, or that having the gear will make them…
justinashleylawii
  • 1,043
98
votes
3 answers

Why are names starting with a "J" common, while words starting with a "J" are uncommon?

There's a reason "J" is worth 10 points in Word feud, it's a quite uncommon letter. According to Lewand, arranged from most to least common in appearance, the letters are: etaoinshrdlcumwfgypbvkjxqz Lewand's ordering differs slightly from others,…
A. Kvåle
  • 2,127
97
votes
3 answers

Why is there no "autumntime" or "falltime"?

Why is "autumntime" (or "falltime") not a word? wintertime => sure springtime => fine summertime => lovely But apparently autumn/fall has no equivalent. Why?
CupawnTae
  • 1,325
96
votes
9 answers

Why Third 'Reich'? Why is 'reich' not translated when 'third' is? What is the English synonym of reich?

Why is Nazi-Germany commonly referred to as "The Third Reich" in English? Why is reich not translated when Dritten ("third") is? And what is the English synonym of reich? Realm? Austria (Republik Österreich), Norway (Kongeriket Norge) and Sweden…
d-b
  • 1,293
96
votes
4 answers

Is that an "r" in "worship" in a text from 1591?

I was trying to see how the Spanish word merced was translated into English in the 16th century, when I found this entry in a dictionary from 1591 by Richard Percyvall: I understand that the second English word is worship, but that "r" is written…
Charlie
  • 2,625
96
votes
3 answers

How did English retain its non-Christian names of the week?

It amazes me that despite centuries of religion dominating almost every aspect of life in Britain or at the very least exerting a great deal of influence on the public and private sphere, the English language has managed to retain its non-Christian…
Nobilis
  • 2,222
96
votes
3 answers

"Maximum" vs. "maximal"

What is the difference in usage between maximum and maximal? When would you use one or the other? Maximum can be a noun or an adjective: This is the maximum it can be set to. This is the maximum value. whereas "maximal" is always an…
nickf
  • 1,999
96
votes
10 answers

How do Americans refer to their non-metric system in everyday circumstances?

In Australian English, we'd refer to using feet, inches, pounds, ounces and the like as "imperial units". In everyday conversation, do Americans refer to their non-metric units as "imperial", even though it's slightly different to the non-metric…
Golden Cuy
  • 18,154
96
votes
3 answers

Why does "Mickey Mouse Operation" refer to a poorly run company?

A phrase I commonly hear (and use myself) when a company (or individual, in some cases) does something that seems foolish or not planned is to ask What kind of Mickey Mouse operation are you running here? A search on Google leads me to Urban…
Skooba
  • 3,900
96
votes
20 answers

Which expressions can be used to close an email?

At the end of written communication like emails and letters, it is customary to use a closing valediction or "complementary close". Which formal and informal expressions can be used to end emails?
Mehper C. Palavuzlar
  • 35,654
95
votes
13 answers

Which is correct: "could care less" or "couldn't care less"?

What's the deal with the phrase "could care less"? Whilst growing up, I've always known people (parents etc) to use the phrase "couldn't care less", but I've also come across people who use the phrase "could care less" to mean the same thing (that…
Mark Embling
  • 1,541
95
votes
13 answers

Is "data" treated as singular or plural in formal contexts?

My non-native English speaking friend just asked me: "Data is..." or "Data are..."? I said both but that's because I've been desensitized from reading/writing both (especially from writing code and adding quick comments). My question: Is it…
glenneroo
  • 1,351
  • 2
  • 11
  • 11
95
votes
2 answers

Is there a single term for "nieces and nephews"?

I find it handy when talking about my sons and daughters I can just say my children. It's nice to say nieces instead of sibling's daughters. I wonder if there is a similar term for nieces and nephews together? I imagine I could say sibling's kids…
Paul Hildebrandt
  • 1,053
  • 1
  • 7
  • 7
95
votes
5 answers

Which is correct, "dataset" or "data set"?

I write dataset instead of data set, in the same way I write database instead of data base. Looking at some English dictionaries, I don't find dataset. Does that mean dataset isn't correct and I should use data set?
apaderno
  • 59,185
95
votes
3 answers

Is "believe you me" proper English?

I understand the phrase "believe you me" to be an emphatic version of "believe me" but how did it come to be? Is it a poor translation into English?
ChrisO
  • 1,504
1 2 3
…
99 100