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1500 questions
19
votes
2 answers
Proper term for hiring fewer people than required
What is the word (if there even is one) to describe an employer hiring/employing fewer people than he/she should?
For example, a cafe wanted to save money and chose to only hire one waiter even though it needed at least three during busy times. The…
JUNCINATOR
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19
votes
5 answers
What is the meaning of "check out" in a programming context?
I am working with some version control software.
One of the things you can do with this software is to "check out a version" of a program's code. This is the exact phrasing:
"Check-out a branch (of the master code) into a local repository:
When…
Andrew F.
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19
votes
6 answers
How many items are actually "a few items"?
When we use a few, how many items are usually indicated? My intuition tells me it's something between 3 and 9, but what is the most common range for a few?
Danubian Sailor
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18
votes
5 answers
Would saying "if" in place of "whether" be a big mistake?
For example, in the expression "I don't know whether I'm coming or going", would saying if in place of whether be a big mistake? Would doing it in written English be an error too?
JCLL
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18
votes
7 answers
complete or completed
Consider a task (a computer science term), which can have three states:
not yet started (queued)
started (running)
finished running
What word would be more correct for third state: "complete" or "completed"?
UPD: this word will be used as a table…
Vadik
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18
votes
6 answers
English equivalent to the German "zig"
The German language has the term zig as a kind of affix to signal a following quantity as a unknown multiple of 10. Just like dutzend (dozen) signals an unknown multiple of 12.
For example:
Ich habe dir zig-mal gesagt, dass du deine Schuhe im…
jawo
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18
votes
4 answers
Why is "of" dropped in 'as X (of) a something'?
Can anyone explain why the preposition "of" is deleted in the second sentence below? Please provide relevant examples to understand. If there is a certain rule, then what is the name of that rule?
Incorrect: Most people think that women have…
ARYF
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18
votes
5 answers
Is rendezvous pronounced like run-they-who?
I know that pronunciation in English is not very consistent, but I heard rendezvous being pronounced like run-they-who, which felt very strange. Is this really the right way to pronounce it, and how did it turn out like this?
user207
18
votes
7 answers
English native speaker vs. Native English speaker
Which of the following options is the correct or the acceptable?
"He is an English native speaker"
or
"He is a native English speaker".
Virtuous Legend
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18
votes
12 answers
A word for "getting colored"?
Is there a word or phrase for changing from being transparent (or colorless, or maybe white) to a solid color? "Getting colored" somehow doesn't feel right. Or maybe something with "tint"? I don't know.
The context in which I'm wondering would be…
Mahm00d
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18
votes
4 answers
Usage of "Pet" in "Pet Peeve"
Why would someone want a peeve as a pet?
Upon searching for pet peeve, one explanation for the usage of pet was
the complaint is adopted like a pet
This meaning I can understand in
pet project
where one takes it under one's wing and cares for…
Peter
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18
votes
5 answers
"I'm not afraid" vs "I don't afraid"
Sometimes I hear people say 'I don't afraid...'
For example: 'I don't afraid to be alone'
Or 'I don't afraid of the darkness'.
But is it right?
I've always thought that we can only say: 'I'm not afraid of something' of 'I'm not afraid to do…
Tatiana
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18
votes
4 answers
Man goes with Woman to ensure she is safe on her way to home
There is a stereotype: The man (just one of... not a husband or boy-friend) goes with girl or woman (usually by walk) to "guard" her on her way to home.
The question is how he/she says/call this:
A man: I will ____ you...
and/or Woman: Could you…
Ilan
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18
votes
1 answer
Which is correct: "on foot" or "by foot"?
He went there on foot.
Or
He went there by foot.
Which one is correct, and on what basis?
CoffeeDay
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18
votes
4 answers
When to use "wherein" instead of "where"?
I've came across the word "wherein", and I'm doubtful about how different it is from using just plain "where". For example in this sentence:
There is a case, though, wherein you can use the aforementioned property.
Is there any difference in…
Nicolás
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