Recent questions tagged usage

Description : What's the difference in Japanese between "onii-san" and "aniki" (Kanji characters provided inside the question)?

Last Answer : Onii-san is older brother is also older brother but it says it’s an honorable term, and means “older brother” and “superior” apparently Aniki is also used in the Yakuza for higher rank members

Description : Do you still maintain the old distinction between watching and seeing video (and live) entertainment?

Last Answer : If someone said, “Do you want to see a movie” I would assume they mean go out to the movie. I think in my head I insert “Do you want to [go] see a movie.” If they say “Do you want to watch a movie,” I assume they mean on TV.

Description : What happens to the unclaimed insurance money of policyholders lying with insurance companies?

Last Answer : Are you talking about life insurance or property/casualty? In P & C the premise is that the money is a pool to pay out the few who need to make claims.

Description : What's the usage of the dynamic graphics？?

Last Answer : answer:I think you’re supposed to stare at the animated panda face line graph long enough that you become hypnotized. Seriously, I think the idea is that it allows you to show changes in data over time.

Description : Are you addicted to your phone?

Last Answer : Yeah it’s a problem for me. I used to be able to entertain myself during slow moments with my imagination alone but now I reach for my phone. I wish that weren’t true.

Description : How long does a full tank of gas last you?

Last Answer : A tank of fuel can last two to three weeks or 300 miles for me. I have a twenty gallon tank but only get about 28 miles per gallon. But that was quite a feat for a full sized car back in ‘78

Description : How does a creator of a font know if you are using it commercially?

Last Answer : answer:Someone would have to notice their work is being used without permission, then take appropriate legal steps. So, yeah, mostly unenforceable.

Description : What words or phrases do you think are being overused?

Last Answer : answer:Epic: adjective 1. of, relating to, or characteristic of an epic or epics. “England’s national epic poem Beowulf” synonyms: heroic, long, grand, monumental, Homeric, Miltonian “a traditional epic poem” It does not mean, “somewhat interesting”, or “mildly cool”, or even “utterly bitchin’.”

Description : When do I use "may", and when do I use "might"?

Last Answer : answer:I use them interchangeably. Formally there is a reason to use may rather than can when asking for permisslon. Can I do that implies ability or physical prowess. Can I leap over ... for permission. Might I leap over that building implies that I am a nineteenth century British pedant.

Description : "Rather" vs "would rather"?

Last Answer : answer:You would not say “I rather…” without an understood (silent) verb. Rather is an adverb; adverbs and adjectives, being modifiers, need something to modify They don’t do well all on their own.

Description : Native English speakers, how do you feel about the use of "gonna", "gotcha", "gotta"...?

Last Answer : I’m cool if they are capitalized at the beginning of a sentence.

Description : When did the usage "will do" come into American usage?

Last Answer : answer:Hm. I wouldn't have thought this was a UK -> US phrase; I actually thought the opposite. But linguist Geoffrey Nunberg calls it a Britishism, so I guess he must be right. That article was ... it would have been used in many contexts that are different from the one that you are asking about.

Description : Are all flags and maps considered to be "public domain" for retail use?

Last Answer : I’m confused – is there something on the Fluther store site that we’re supposed to see in order to answer the question? Do you want to use Fluther graphics?

Description : Does it sound odd to you when people use phrases like "hate on" instead of "hate?"?

Last Answer : answer:Someone can hate on you without hating you. They're different. If you're hating on someone you might think of that as more like picking on someone or giving them a bad time . Hating ... genuinely dislike them, hopefully with cause. I've never heard yell on , so can't help you there

Description : English question about usage of prepositions with a conjunction?

Last Answer : My feeling is that you don’t have to repeat the preposition if it’s the same preposition, as in 1. But if the prepositions are different, as in 2, then they are both required.

Description : Grammar: usage of "have".

Last Answer : answer:The problem here is the difference between have the auxiliary and have as a main verb. In the sentence do you have the latest software installed? have is not an auxiliary. In the ... but it's technically not an auxiliary. I know it's confusing. I have installed the latest software.

Description : Can you go 24 hours without using "awesome," "suck," "basically" and "actually"?

Last Answer : I have many verbal crutches. When I am successful at shedding one, it’s usually replaced by another. It’s easier to do when everyone in my house is on board. My wife and I were able to shed the cringe-worthy “like” a few years ago, once we discovered that it was 50% of the words we were speaking.

Description : Are you serious about social media?

Last Answer : I do not use social media.

Description : What perfectly good English words used outside the US do you wish to see used by Americans?

Last Answer : “arse” instead of “ass”

Description : Grammar question about articles.

Last Answer : answer:This is how I would write the following: Mr. Cook bought us our choice of tea or coffee or Mr. Cook bought each of us a cup of tea or coffee. A horse is long and so is its ... about clear communication that following ironclad rules. I love this small grammar book. It's always served me well.

Description : English question about usage of Nouns.

Last Answer : In #1 it is acceptable though it is confusing out of context. Content refers to an antecedent in a previous sentence. Lacking that it is bad grammar. #2, again, is context related, however, more ... one. Consult the poem Jaberwocky and you decide how much latitude to give this Poor Richard.

Description : What purpose does "kind of" serve as a modifier?

Last Answer : Whatever purpose it serves for the person using it. For me it means a ‘less’ of whatever I’m saying.

Description : When does one use awhile and a while?

Last Answer : answer:Grammar Girl does a good job of explaining the difference here. “a while” = noun “awhile” = adverb

Description : If a goose is a geese shouldn't a moose be a meese?

Last Answer : I hate you meeses to pieces!

Description : What do you think of this article on 'weaponized language?'?

Last Answer : answer:This reminds me of a memo Newt Gingrich wrote for GOPAC, a Republican political training organization. The title was Language: A Key Mechanism of Control . In it, he offered a ... spend(ing) stagnation status quo steal taxes they/them threaten traitors unionized urgent (cy) waste welfare

Description : What are some examples of common expressions that people tend to get wrong?

Last Answer : I couldn’t care less > I could care less.

Description : Do you sometimes feel an urge to use your left hand to do things that you would normally do with your right hand?

Last Answer : answer:Why not just do it? Some people are ambidextrous; two of my step-sons use both hands for various tasks, including writing, dicing with a knife and throwing a football or baseball. I’m not sure that the reasons matter. Experiment.

Description : What is proper usage for the term "discourse?"?

Last Answer : answer:The only correct dis·course/disˈkôrs/ Verb: Speak or write authoritatively about a topic: “she discoursed on the history of Europe”. Noun: Written or spoken communication or debate.

Description : What words do you use in alternative to a curse word?

Last Answer : Cupid stunt, when in earshot of the kids.

Description : Second conditional in English- Correct usage?

Last Answer : There are different ways that the conditional can be used. I did not know the names for the different types of uses, but according to the first site, second conditional refers to imaginary or ... to things that happened in the past. These uses are different from the examples that you gave.

Description : Is there a proper use of "stimuluses"?

Last Answer : No. Stimuli.

Description : What does "Have" mean in these sentences?

Last Answer : answer:Have => drink/eat. It's casual English. She was the girl to have had a cup of tea is a very strange sentence; I recommend you ignore it. It's closest to your second guess to the ... It's shorter and uses a more appropriate structure. > He had a cup of coffee and a pastry for breakfast.

Description : What words are fine when used as nouns but kind of (or absolutely) dirty when used as verbs?

Last Answer : Slam.

Description : What is the difference between slander and slanderous?

Last Answer : It depends on the context of the sentence you were writing. As your teacher said, slanderous is the adjective form of slander. So if you were using slander as an adjective, it should have been slanderous instead of slander. Slander by itself is a noun and sometimes a verb.

Description : How many hours per day do people spend on their mobile phones and how much was this past five years?

Last Answer : answer:I spend ‘zero’ time on my mobile phone. Cant stand the things, only use it when I break down etc What a barrel o’ laughs I must be…

Description : How much electricity does a computer use?

Last Answer : answer:A typical PC takes 100 Watts. This varies a lot. It can be 10W or as much as 200W. Figure 24 hours per day x 100 W = 2400 W-hours = 2.4kWhr. At $0.12 per kWhr = 2.4 1.2= 0.28 per ... pretty close. PC takes $8.64 per month. You'll have to look elsewhere for the other $46. A/C? Extra hot water?

Description : Why do people follow and believe in right wing ideology?

Last Answer : It makes them feel safe.

Description : Shoo-in or Shoe-in, which one is correct?

Last Answer : Shoo-in.

Description : Will you take this short grammar challenge?

Last Answer : No, I will not. I am on winter break. My mind does not do school work until January.

Description : Why should we bother with the "apostrophe of omission"?

Last Answer : it’s okay in online texting but I cringe when I see in letters, faxes and especially when I see sign at store saying ’ sale on tyre’s” and things like that….

Description : Do you know any English words that seem like they only have one usage in one context?

Last Answer : I just thought of another one: the word “grubby” is almost always used to describe “hands”. It’s always “grubby little hands” or something of that nature.

Description : What's the literary / rhetorical / analytical term for a figurative description of an action when the description can't apply to the actor?

Last Answer : Sounds just like a more specific usage of metaphor to me

Description : Do you know the actual meaning of irony and get annoyed when people use it incorrectly?

Last Answer : 1)Yes 2) No.

Description : Correct wording? is.. are? cause... causes? please fix this ?! thanks.

Last Answer : Paul’s poor mental and emotional states are what cause him to take his own life. Or you combine them as “psychological state” and have it be “Paul’s poor psychological state is what causes him…”

Description : How do you organize yourself?

Last Answer : Hmmm. Sometimes I keep it in my head. Sometimes I use an online calendar that texts my cellphone when I have an appointment. Sometimes I build elaborate to do lists that are linked to the necessary documents ... doesn't happen very often. Then again, I have a job which has few, if any, deadlines.

Description : Is there a way to create a pie chart of the websites I spend my time on in Safari?

Last Answer : Rescuetime.

Description : Does this thesis sentence sound right?

Last Answer : It doesn’t read as a thesis statement at all to me; rather the premise to a thesis. Your thesis should be a succinct explanation of what your essay will be arguing. You’re almost there, but the current wording is rather vague. Your spelling and grammar need work as well.

Description : I have a giant collection of fabric. All kinds. What can I do with this fabric if I don't want to sew?

Last Answer : Why don't you donate the fabric to a high school Family Consumer Economics class?

Description : How about "I" and "me"?

Last Answer : answer:In general, the trend is to drop any distinctions we can unless doing so will impede our ability to be understood. That's as neutral as I can put it; personally, I think we lose precision ... between the objective and subjective case. So we just know that saying Ben and me sounds wrong.

Description : If English is not your first language and you are new here, could you let the collective know?

Last Answer : I am not new but English isn’t my first language.