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1500 questions
15
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4 answers
What is the nuance of "Pick yourself up a copy!"?
An American guy introduced a book, written by himself and published this year, and then said like this in an online video.
"If you're interested, if you want to hear more like this, definitely pick yourself up a copy!"
Actually, he said this in…
HiruneDiver
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15
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2 answers
Using "south" when referring to the southern part of a place
In Italian, if I am referring to Southern Europe, I could say Sud Europa (literally "South Europe"), or Europa meridionale.
Is South Europe acceptable in English, or could I say "the south of Europe"?
apaderno
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15
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6 answers
What is the difference between a company, organisation, industry, firm, corporation and business?
A company is any form of business whether it is small or large.
Generally the term "company" indicates a particular kind of business
dealing in a specific product.
An organisation is the larger form and generally comprises of a
number of companies.…
Premraj
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15
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2 answers
Why is it "Here you are!" but "Here comes the teacher."?
Why is it "Here you are!" but "Here comes the teacher." ? I'm quite confused. When should I use inversion?
Charlottemiaut
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15
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5 answers
When can I use "thy" instead of "your"?
I have never heard anybody using it, I only came across the word in the title of the movie Honor Thy Mother
Terve
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15
votes
3 answers
What does "it's in the game" mean?
I understand "X is in the game", but without a definite subject this phrase becomes meaningless to me. It's been used by EA Sports and other companies to advertise they have something special about their games but this lack of specification of…
Jader Dias
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15
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2 answers
"I and John" vs. "John and myself" vs. "John and I" -- Which is the acceptable way to refer to myself and my friend?
I need to find out which one of these ways to refer to me and a friend in one sentence is correct?
I and John...
John and myself...
John and I...
McGafter
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15
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1 answer
What does a the prefix "a-" mean in "a-changing"
For example in The Times They are a-Changin' (Bob Dylan).
I suppose it's old language. Where does this prefix come from and what does it mean?
ralfstx
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15
votes
2 answers
Capitalization of first letter after a dash
I'm in South Ossetia – yes, I managed to get a visa!
In this sentence, should "yes" be capitalised ("Yes") after the dash?
Andrew Grimm
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15
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11 answers
An appropriate term for an overly by-the-rules person
In Swedish, we've got a term that loosely translates as paragraph jockey. It refers to a person, often a clerk or a referee, who is following all the rules, prescriptions and agreements ad absurdum. The application is slightly derogatory but not…
Konrad Viltersten
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15
votes
2 answers
How do you use the term "running late"?
In a textbook a person said to a waiter:
Could you bring the check with coffee? We're running late.
I'm not sure about its implication. Does this sentence mean that I don't have much time?
Also, if I say to someone on the phone "I'm running…
tennis girl
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votes
4 answers
in order for I to do something -- "for I"? why not "for me"?
Example:
In order to make use of the database, we need a way to perform what are called CRUD tasks. That is to say we need a way to create new data items, read and find existing data items, update data items with new information, and delete…
Michael Rybkin
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15
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1 answer
Why do we say something is The same (using the article), but we say something is different (no article)?
We say "the same", but "different" (no article)? A student asked me this question, and I wasn't sure how to answer him. Thanks for your help!
Charlotte
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15
votes
2 answers
Differences between 'till now', 'as of now','yet', 'up till now'
I have seen phrases like the following:
Till now
Yet
Up till now
As of now
Is there any difference between their usage and meaning, or do they have the same meaning?
SanjeevRai
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5 answers
'Manhunt for three gunmen' vs 'womanhunt for three gunwomen'
Some time ago, Paris police launched a manhunt for three gunmen.
But, what if there are three women who carry guns, shoot and escape, is it still appropriate to say "manhunt for three gunmen"? Will it have to be "womanhunt for three gunwomen"?
mangoyogurt
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