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1500 questions
44
votes
3 answers
What is the meaning of "prairie-dog" in this sentence?
I read a sentence in Word by Word by Kory Stamper which was:
People prairie-dog over the tops of their cubicles and call to their co-workers: "Hey, you going for a walk at lunch today?"
Although I don't want to, but I feel that the word has been…
kelvin
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44
votes
5 answers
"The Jesus who said" - why is there a definite article before the proper name "Jesus"?
The system doesn't seem to be providing for the well-being of all the people, and that's what makes it, almost in its very nature, something contrary to the Jesus who said, "Blessed are the poor. Woe to the rich." (source: a documentary…
Eddie Kal
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44
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6 answers
Husband is dead: He and his wife {are/were} great scientists
I would like to make a statement about two people. One of them is dead:
He and his wife {are/were} great scientists.
Are probably indicates that both of them are still alive. Were indicates both are dead or at least are not great scientists…
Sara
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44
votes
4 answers
Do digits after the decimal point have a specific name?
I would like to know if there's a name for "digits after the decimal point" (in only one or two words). For instance in french these digits are called "décimales".
I've found "decimal places", but I am not sure it is synonym, for instance,…
zezollo
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44
votes
5 answers
Should nouns after "any" be singular or plural?
While I was answering a question on ELL, I got confused with a comment from a fellow user. After I indicated that:
"Do you have any idea to prove it?'
is grammatically correct, the OP commented that "ideas" should be used in place of "idea".
The…
Mistu4u
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44
votes
5 answers
What does the expression 'seven for seven thirty ' mean?
I get invites which tell me I am expected at 7 for 7.30.
What time should I arrive?
Robert Colledge
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43
votes
10 answers
"I hate red color" or "I hate red": why exactly is the first option ungrammatical
If a person wants to say that the most hated color for him is red (in general, no specific hues implied), could he say:
I hate red color.
I've found very little results for this sentence at Google. Is this combination (red color) very awkward…
CowperKettle
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43
votes
7 answers
Is "until" inclusive or exclusive?
I sent an email to someone and got an auto-reply saying:
I am out of the office until 09/15/2014.
Does this mean he will be available on the morning of the 15th?
AGamePlayer
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43
votes
12 answers
Possible responses to "thank you"
Is "you are welcome" more polite than "no problem"?
What is the general proper reply to a thank-you?
Yes
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43
votes
3 answers
Why is "iron" pronounced "EYE-URN" but not "EYE-RUN"?
I just noticed that the word iron is pronounced EYE-URN in standard Englishes instead of what the spelling suggests. I have always been pronouncing it "EYE-RUN" but I just checked its pronunciation and it shocked me a bit.
So in UK English, it is…
user119042
43
votes
6 answers
"Bathroom" or "Restroom"
I have a specific question: Are Americans more inclined to use "bathroom" or "restroom" about a bathroom/restroom with several sinks and stalls in a company building?
user118185
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43
votes
4 answers
Can you please explain this joke: "I'm going bananas is what I tell my bananas before I leave the house"?
Can you please explain this joke: "I'm going bananas is what I tell my bananas before I leave the house"?
And another one: "I hate it when my friends ask me to do them a solid especially when I've been eating grapes all day"
Can you please give…
Hammad Ahmed
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43
votes
4 answers
"I can't login" or "I can't log in"?
Which is correct:
I can't login?
I can't log in?
I'm confused if that's with a space or no space?
Rolan
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43
votes
4 answers
Do native speakers still use "ought to"?
Do native speakers still use "ought to" in daily conversation?
I haven't seen "ought to" used on any social or news ... websites. I only read about it in English grammar books.
Ngram:
Trends:
UPDATE:
Is "ought to" still used by native…
Shannak
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42
votes
4 answers
Why do we not use the definite article in "Where can I find the room 401?"
Last week in college, a student [with a thick South Asian accent] asked me:
"Excuse me, where can I find the room 401?".
I realized that to my native English ears, the word "the" sounded non-native. This had me realize that we sometimes use no…
silph
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