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1500 questions
21
votes
5 answers
Is "indices" or "indexes" the plural of "index"?
I've heard both plural forms of index, indices and indexes. I usually use indices when referring to the computer science term for database index, but I'm not sure if it is correct in that context.
Are both indices and indexes correct? If only one…
Danubian Sailor
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21
votes
6 answers
One of my friend's OR friends' wife? (My friend has only one wife)
Anita is Neil's wife. Neil is one of my friends. Now, how do I refer to Anita? Think that I'm telling someone who does not know the couple.
One of my friend's wife
OR
One of my friends' wife
I know the structure one of [something] takes a…
Maulik V
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21
votes
2 answers
Should you use a plural verb if you refer to a fraction?
Should you use a plural verb if you refer to a fraction?
Nine tenths of the pillar have rotted away.
I think has should be used here, but I'm not sure.
Sudhir
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21
votes
4 answers
Plural form of "brother-in-law" when a possessive case is involved
My brother's friend's opinions
My brothers' friend's opinions
Now, let us suppose that the brother in "1" is a brother-in-law and that all the brothers in "2" are brothers-in-law.
How do we rewrite sentences 1 and 2 in a possessive case?
I…
user114
21
votes
7 answers
Responding to "It was nice to talk to you"
How can I reply to "It was nice to talk to you" properly both formally and casually?
Actually, I want to make this question a bit general, but since I heard this sentence a lot I used it as an example.
What about these options I wrote off the top of…
Mrt
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21
votes
1 answer
What is the difference between "look", "see", and "watch"?
When should I use "look", "see", and "watch"?
I'm watching "Star Trek".
Have you seen "Star Trek"?
Are the examples above correct?
Be Brave Be Like Ukraine
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21
votes
4 answers
How is "better off" different from just "better"?
By definition of Cambridge Dictionaries Online
The word 'better' means
comparative of good: of a higher quality or more enjoyable than someone or something else
By most dictionaries, better off means better economically.
For example:
"The…
Sean Klaus
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21
votes
3 answers
Can I be mobbed by only one person?
Is it correct word usage to say that I'm mobbed by a single person? The word mobbing comes from mob, which refers to a large number of people, so only one person mobbing sounds a bit strange.
FolksLord
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21
votes
3 answers
I can downplay. Can I upplay?
I can downplay something.
Can I thus "upplay" a thing or not? What do you think?
Anixx
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21
votes
5 answers
What does "How come" mean?
Is How come a phrase? What does it mean? Is it formal or informal? British or American?
Can I use it in anywhere?
LeoHzs
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21
votes
5 answers
What are open street shops called?
In many places, people on the roadside have a small display of the products. It's not a proper shop where you have to open a door to get in; it's just like a roadside street shop.
I am not sure what to call these shops. Is there a good one word that…
nicku
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21
votes
7 answers
What phrase would American English speakers use in place of "Tom, Dick and Harry"?
In Indian English, the phrase "Tom, Dick and Harry" is very prevalent, is used quite frequently in media, movies etc.
On the other hand, I don't see it being used as frequently, in American media.
What phrase would an American use in its…
Max
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21
votes
1 answer
Is there a single word for "native English speaker"?
Is there a single word for someone who is a "native English speaker" (or more generally, for native speaker of language X)?
There are single words for people having given nationality (like Englishman), believing in given religion (like Christian),…
Danubian Sailor
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21
votes
3 answers
According to Grammarly, this sentence is incorrect. But is it really?
I was given two movie tickets by my mother
I was using Grammarly and it says "by" should be replaced by "from".
Please find a link to the Grammarly checker here.
Tii
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21
votes
3 answers
"Whether" Vs. "If"
Could someone please help me with these sentences?
I need to know
Which one doesn’t sound natural?
Which one is formal and which one is not?
A - I don’t know whether this word fits in the sentence.
B - I don’t know if this word fits in the…
A-friend
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