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1500 questions
16
votes
2 answers
"A * doesn't a good * make"
I'm curious about a certain sentence construct that I've seen in different contexts. I'm talking about sentences in the following style:
A * doesn't a * make.
(* being a wildcard). For example:
A good camera doesn't a good photographer make.
A…
MoritzLost
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16
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3 answers
Which of 'Question on', 'question about', 'question regarding', 'question related to' is best?
Which of these sentences are grammatically correct?
A: I have a few questions about this course.
B: I have a few questions on this course.
C: I have a few questions regarding this course.
D: I have a few questions related to this course.
Is B…
Rajeev Sampath
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16
votes
4 answers
How to pronounce "scorpion'll", "Jim'll", etc
I was talking to someone about a fight between a scorpion and a beetle before we watch the actual video. We were predicting what would happen.
I wanted to sound informal by saying, "the scorpion 'll kill the beetle". Then suddenly it came to me it…
Yuri
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16
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5 answers
"The USA" versus "USA"
People on the Internet say that it's based on the context, but they suggest the form without the.
However, when I read the Wikipedia article, the first sentence is the following:
The United States of America (USA or U.S.A.), commonly referred to…
Derfder
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16
votes
3 answers
Why does spell sound like "|sbel|" while in dictionary it is "|spel|"?
I listened to the pronunciation of spell in Wiktionary, and it sounds to me that it's pronounced as |sbel|—it sounds to me very clearly as a b sound. But in dictionaries, such as my Mac dictionary app, they say it's pronounced |spel| with a p…
Sayakiss
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16
votes
5 answers
at vs in (the hospital) - What is different?
I saw your mom in the hospital.
I saw your mom at the hospital.
What is different in these two sentences? Do two prepositions make significant difference?
colona
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16
votes
1 answer
A joke about owls playing pool
A joke in a student comic:
There are two owls playing pool. One accidentally nudges the white.
Owl 1: That's two hits.
Owl 2: Two hits? Two hits to who?
What does this joke mean?
Feng Yu
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16
votes
1 answer
Debuggable - Is it correct?
Which one is correct and making proper sense, Else is there any major difference between the two.
That code should be debuggable.
That code should be able to debug.
If there is no difference in the meaning. What will be the proper place to use each…
Jeya Suriya Muthumari
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16
votes
3 answers
Singular or plural when indicating something unique owned by many
In the following sentences, which one is correct?
Tom likes dogs with long tails.
Tom likes dogs with a long tail.
There are many tails because there are many dogs. But each dog has only one tail. I prefer the second sentence, but I am not sure…
Hwang
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16
votes
3 answers
What does “kilo-stones” mean?
What does “kilo-stones” mean as in “Will stretch like kilo-stones or cypresses”?
The phrase is in this book. It is used in "To Any Young Soldier", a sonnet by F.G. Butler:
Lean your Bren against the white-washed wall
While peasants, laughing,…
EngLearner
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16
votes
2 answers
What does the word "Print" mean on a form?
I find the wording of this form confusing. What should I write next to "Signed" and "Print"?
user1853
16
votes
4 answers
What does "join the dots" mean?
To get even this far, readers have to make great efforts to join the
dots.
I encountered this sentence in The Economist. I have looked up the dictionary but still cannot understand the meaning of "join the dots". Could you please help me with…
IvyChou
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16
votes
4 answers
Looking forward to see you vs Looking forward to seeing you?
When learning grammar in school, I was taught that any verb after the word "to" should be in present tense and no participles.
i.e. To play instead of to playing, or to sleep instead of to sleeping etc.
So, which sentence is correct?
Looking…
ilovetolearn
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16
votes
7 answers
If 'God bless someone/something'; is it positive or negative? Same with 'All the best'?
I have heard it both:
On someone's birthday -
God bless you
And also, when someone/thing is ruining up completely, we use the same greetings.
For instance, a newly appointed CEO is very badly known for his mismanagement. For a company called ABC,…
Maulik V
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16
votes
5 answers
Is there a word for a gel turning into liquid?
We have a word called evaporation for liquid turning into vapour. Is there a word for something turning from gel to liquid?
The thing is that I have a plant "Aloe Vera" and it has a gel substance in it. But if you pluck it and let it rest for few…
user25493