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1500 questions
30
votes
2 answers
"Thank you in advance" - how to replace?
When writing emails, I often ended it with "thank you in advance". Even more, I used to have it in my signature for a certain time (mea culpa).
However, recently I've been told that it is not appropriate or even rude.
I checked on the Web and found…
Be Brave Be Like Ukraine
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30
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4 answers
Why is the adjective for "mutate" not "mutatable"?
The adjective for "mutate" is "mutable", and not "mutatable". I wonder why the last two letters (-te) have been removed before adding "-able" to the end of it. Is there any rule? Any similar adjectives?
B Faley
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30
votes
6 answers
Is there a polite, formal way to say "sh!t happens"?
I am trying to write an essay and the only phrase I can think of is "shit happens". I'm wondering; is there any formal way to say shit happens?
Jasmine Cornwell
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4 answers
Do we say - "in the meeting" or "at the meeting"
I am always confused with the preposition. Can somebody point me to the material where prepositional phrase is explained?
Here is the problem I am facing currently.
This was discussed (stated/announced/said) at the last meeting when you were not…
dexterous
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30
votes
2 answers
I am cumming or I am coming
Hi I know this is vulgar language but since it is a part of English I want to learn in right way. I want to ask a question about cum and come and this is really serious question made me confused.
I read people say "I am coming" in sexual meaning.…
user16268
30
votes
16 answers
Sarcastic Idioms for being slow to notice something
The scenario:
The power was out but it came back up. However, a friend or family member noticed that late and said:
Oh, the power is back up!
You noticed that long before they did (sometimes because it is obvious). You want to comment on/about…
learner
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30
votes
7 answers
What do they mean with "Hi, how are you doing"?
When I was in New York the workers at the counter (in a shop) always said
Hi, how are you doing?
I was, and still am very confused if they just mean "hello", or actually want to know how I feel.
Could someone please tell me if this is just an…
Robin
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30
votes
3 answers
Why are 'beef' and 'pork' and 'mutton' used to refer to the meat of cows and pigs and sheep?
Why are 'beef' and 'pork' and 'mutton' used to refer to the meat of cows and pigs and sheep? Other animals keep the same name. Is it just some weird preference in the English language?
Mihai
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30
votes
1 answer
What's the name of this walking style used by Luna Lovegood?
There is a character called "Luna Lovegood" in Harry Potter series
This is how she walks:
What's the name of this walking style used by this character?
Rhea K
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30
votes
6 answers
Why is it correct to say "We should go see a movie," but not "We should have gone see a movie"?
Two sentences:
We should go see a movie. (1)
*We should have gone see a movie. (2)
The first is correct, the second is incorrect. Why can we omit the word 'to' in the first but not the second?
A simpler example is this: You can say "We go see…
Benjamin Grange
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30
votes
6 answers
Why do we pluralize "congratulations" when we say it?
I just thought about this today. Normally when something good happened to some friend we would say "congratulations" to them but we make it plural, instead of "congratulation". I wonder what is the underlying (grammatical) reason for doing this?
And…
Joji
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30
votes
7 answers
"quite" vs "pretty"
What is the difference between quite and pretty in the following context:
The differences between these concepts are quite complicated.
and
The differences between these concepts are pretty complicated.
Dmitrii Bundin
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30
votes
1 answer
Was "twelve" pronounced as "TPELF"?
I came across this piece of text and I for the life of me can't understand why "twelve" is written tpelf. I have encircled other numbers that are strange.
My friend who lives in New York sent me this and told me that "twelve" was pronounced with a P…
user127738
30
votes
2 answers
Why can't I contract "it has" sometimes?
Why can we contract "it has" to "it's" in some sentences but not others?
For example:
Why is this correct
It's been moved (It has been moved)
this incorrect
It's four legs (It has four legs)
and this correct
It's got four legs (It has got four…
Tom Brown
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30
votes
3 answers
Why is it correct to say "me busy."?
I was playing Warcraft. I clicked on my peon.
He told me: "me busy. leave me alone."
Why is it OK to say it that way instead of just "I'm busy."?
Snack Exchange
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