texts:
I'm wondering if "besides" at the beginning of a sentence necessarily introduces an additional argument for a claim. Does the following sound okay?

The study finds people look taller in jeans. Besides, there were no gender differences in the results.

The "besides" here does not introduce a second argument. The claim is people look taller in jeans. What follows is mere additional information, not another argument for the claim. Is "besides" used properly here?
Consider the following example, which seems more natural:

"I'm much too old for you," he said, "and besides, I'm married."

Here, the clam is that the person thinks it unfit to have a relationship with a woman. The first argument for the claim is that he is too old. The second argument, introduced by the sentence-initial "besides," is that he already has a wife. Note also that such a claim as is relevant to the use of "besides," correct me if I'm wrong, can be implied rather than stated.

A: Sorry to be so forward, but would you go out with me?

B: But I'm much too old for you, and besides, I'm married.


texts:
Which sentence grammatically sounds more correct:

  Do you mind if you wait here a few minutes?
  Do you mind waiting here a few minutes?

For me both sound absolutely idiomatic and natural.

Added: I have read the similar thread, but unfortunately it didn't help about this specific sentence.


texts: In which instance is "th" pronounced like in "the"?

texts: In certain words, the letters 'th' are pronounced just like in "the" or "clothes" — /ð/. But in a word such as "filthy", the sound changes (/θ/). Which sound is more common? When seeing 'th', would you naturally pronounce it like in "the" or like in "filthy"?


texts: I am wondering what many of which refers to?

texts:
Original: -ant also occurs in adjectives, many of which are formed from stems which are not current words in English.

Would you please tell me if I have properly rephrased the above sentence? and what does many refer to?

-ant also occurs in adjectives many of which are formed from stems which are not current words in English.

In addition, would you possibly write the bold part in another form?

-ant also occurs in adjectives, many of which are formed from stems which are not current words in English.

Thanks in advance


texts:
In our daily stand-up calls, my Project manager says "Ajay will be late today". I am just wondering like he will not late anymore!!, He will just come late or He is running late today from the regular schedule.

Its little bit confusing, which one of the following is the correct one?

Ajay will be late
Ajay will come late

Hope to get a clear idea.


texts:
what does "stole an election" mean in:

  Marcos stole an election in the Philippines.

Does it mean:

  Marcos won an election in the Philippines.

or

  Marcos won illegally an election in the Philippines.

?


texts:
Can "Pretty much" and "basically" be used interchangeably and mean the same thing?

For example,

  I'm pretty much done.

VS

  I'm basically done.

Another example:

  Polar bears are basically extinct.

VS

  polar bears are pretty much extinct


texts:
As you know, the verb "assemble" means: "to make something by joining separate parts together"; also the phrasal verb "put together" means: "to put the parts of something in the correct places and join them to each other".

I need to know if they both can work in the same sense in the following sentence or not:

  He helped his son to ............. his new model airplane.

a) put together
b) assemble

I think both of the options "a" and "b" work naturally in the sentence above without any change in meaning.


texts:
If we put something in the "mortar" and beat it with a pestle, what will sound natural,  if we're talking about :"cookies", "herbs"?

  I am pounding/grinding the cookies.

  I am pounding the herbs.

So can both "pound" or "grind" be used for "cookies " (I guess "grind" doesn't sound quite right with "herbs"?) I mean "pound" means beating something (with something hard, preferably with a hammer, in case of food)


texts: When making questions, is there any remarkable difference between in what respect and how? I'm asking for cases or contexts where only one of them can be used.


texts: What is the difference between these two sentences-with or without 'was'?

texts:
"I was willing to do whatever was necessary to be the wife he wanted."

  "I was willing to do whatever necessary to be the wife he wanted."

with or without "was" make a big difference?


texts:
Here I have the following paragraph, (this is from the beginning of paragraph)

  Of  these approaches, the model driven categories opt for pre-defined model libraries (AAA, 1999; BBB, 1998).  Among other changes are the recent presentations of a building reconstruction approach by CCC (2010) adopting Bayesian Decision rule to optimize parametric blocks placed on 2D-supports, and an introduction of generative statistics by DDD (2013) to a reconstruction scheme, where pre-defined primitives have been combined and merged into an entire roof.

[Here, AAA, BBB,CCC and DDD are names of the researchers]

My questions are, in academic writing, is it common to start a sentence (actually a paragraph) with OF and does this paragraph is well accepted even in higher impact factor journals.

or any suggestion from Native English speakers are also welcome, because I have been recommended to get their support.


texts:
"Relationships went south" what does it mean?
In this sentence:

Shane's wallpaper is blank since his latest relationships went south.


texts:
"The programmes of study will apply from five years of age, likewise the attainment targets."

Not much else to add really, specifically the last part I have trouble understanding? How can an attainment target something? I have never seen this constellation, help please.


texts: What does "Applies to something in principle" mean?

texts:
Could someone please explain this phrase to me: "applies to something in principle".

Thank you.


texts:
To laugh often and much;
  to win the respect of intelligent people
  and the affection of children;
  to earn the appreciation of honest critics
  and endure the betrayal of false friends;
  to appreciate beauty;
  to find the best in others;
  to leave the world a bit better,
  whether by a healthy child,
  a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
  to know that even one life has breathed easier
  because you have lived.

  This is to have succeeded.

Are these sentences called something specific, in grammar? These don't seem to have any subject. Can they be thought of as complete sentences?


texts: Is this word "precariously" add meaning to the first of the sentence or else?

texts:
The tall, forbidding palace perched atop the very edge of the mountainous cliff, overlooking so precariously the vast, black body of water below that it appeared almost ready to plummet into the latter's dark depths. [Warcraft War of the Ancients #1]

Does the word "precariously" add any meaning to "the vast" for "The Forbidding palace"?


texts: What is "What did he do to solve this problem?" in passive form?

texts:
If we got this sentence

  What did he do to solve this problem?

I think that its passive form is

  What was done by him to solve this problem?

But my teacher said it was

  What was done to solve this problem by him?

Which one is correct? I need help.


texts:
Is there an idiom about exploration? I am trying to think of one, but I could only come up with a weird one that doesn't have an entry in the dictionary.

For example:

  They sent giant spaceships into space to push the boundaries of
  mankind.

I am not sure why, but it sounds weird. Also, I am not sure if I am using it correctly.


texts: Which tense should I use in "I was talking about … when she started to talk about …"?

texts:
I was talking to her about something else when she suddenly started to talk about what he had been up to these days.

I was talking to her about something else when she suddenly started to talk about what he was up to these days.

I was talking to her about something else when she suddenly started to talk about what he has been up to these days.

I was talking to her about something else when she suddenly started to talk about what he is up to these days.

Which of the above sentences grammatically correct?
What's the difference in their meaning?


texts: Difference between “They are goofing” and “They are goofing off”?

texts: What's the difference between "They are goofing" and "They are goofing off"? I have heard both, but I don't know the distinction.


texts:
I would like to know whether the following sentence should be punctuated with comma or not:

  You lied to me, and you cheated on me, and you offended me.

In my language, as the sentence in question renders a chain of events and the conjunction and is used to lay emphasis on that, the use of comma is needed. What would be the situation in English?

On the other hand, I wonder: if I omit the two you's like this:

  You lied to me, and cheated on me, and offended me.

does it affect in any way the meaning? What about the commas, needed or not?


texts: When a raging dog is "twisting", what does it do?

texts:
I'm trying to understand what does twisting means when the subject is a raging dog.
I can't make sense of simple definitions of twist (to bent, to rotate) in the context of the following examples:

My adrenalin must have been really pumping for I managed to lift this
snarling, twisting dog up into the air and held him straight up over
my head. (source)
The insanely twisting dog was now held by his collar and a back leg. (source)
He shoved the fiercely twisting dog backward, jammed a pistol against
Wolf's head, and pulled the trigger! (source)

I know that the verb lunge is commonly used when describing a raging dog, but wonder whether twist has a particular meaning?
P.S. If it does, it would be great if you could share an image or a video that demonstrates it, but it's a bonus :)


texts: When to use night/nighttime in the following context?

texts:
"How have you survived living here for nearly a year now if you don't like the hustle and bustle?"

  1) "At night it's bearable."

  2) "It's bearable at night."

  3) "Night makes it bearable."

  4) "At nighttime it's bearable."

  5) "It's bearable at nighttime."

  6) "Nighttime makes it bearable."

Which one of these responds do you native speakers find the most natural in this particular context? And which ones are not natural?


texts: Can I use Shake/Shook without a subject?

texts:
For example, are these sentences correct?

The boys felt their chairs shake.
The desks and chairs shook.

(I mean it is nowhere mentioned who is actually responsible for shaking them.)


texts: Should I use "was" or "were" in the following sentence?

texts:
The only movement in my body was/were my trembling legs and heaving lungs.>

Should it be was or were? Grammarly tells me is was but to my me were sounds more logical since legs and lungs are two items.


texts:
I have the following sentence:

This section of a program starts with keyword "protected".

Should I use any articles before keyword?


texts:
I often get confused with the definite article. For instance in the following sentence should we use the or not?

  4 easy steps to update the recipient of your Optiscore Subscription
  Putting a placeholder to send emails to the Account Managers of low engagement subscriptions.

Is there a rule of thumb that I can refer to?


texts: How can I express the idea "Now I am experiencing high fever" in response to an enquiry?


texts:
Which one is correct and what is the diffrent between.

  I went to Canada to learn English

vs

  I went to Canada for learning English.

I heard the former is correct and the latter is wrong.
I just wanted to know about "for learning" meaning.
Thank you.


texts:
A- When I last went to Moscow, they had renovated St Basil's Cathedral,

  (They finished renovating the cathedral before I went to Moscow,)

  B- When I last went to Moscow, they had been renovating St Basil's
  Cathedral.

  (They were still renovating the cathedral when I went to Moscow.)

  A- Although she tried to hide her face, I could see that Clara was
  crying,

  (Clara was still crying)

  B- Although she tried to hide her face, I could see that Clara had
  been crying.

  (Clara was no longer crying)

If the above sentences were correct, (hope someone assures that)  then what is the difference between the first B sentence and the second B ? they are using the same tense (the continuous past perfect)  yet they render different meanings ... I mean Clara had to be still crying just as They were still renovating the cathedral when I went to Moscow.


texts: Clauses position: must a clause closely follow the noun it modifies?

texts:
For both restrictive clauses and non-restrictive clauses, must they strictly follow the nouns they modify? Is there any exception of injecting adj/adv phrases between nouns and clauses?

I have the feeling that I did read sentences that contain clauses not closely following nouns, but I can't cite any valid examples.

UPDATE:

Actually I would like to discuss avoiding ambiguity when a complex sentence having several phrases and clauses. For example, in our discussion a sentence:

  I live in the house, and when I say house I mean more of a run down
  shack, which is next to the river

after I added an ADJ phrase, the position of the clause "which is next to the river" will cause ambiguity of which noun it modifies, "the house" or "the redwood park":

  I live in the house in the redwood park, and when I say house I mean
  more of a run down shack, which is next to the river

So what would be the rules for clause position in such a case?


texts: Difference between "get in touch with" and "contact"

texts:
What's difference between the following sentences:

  Thanks for getting in touch with us.

AND

  Thanks for contacting us.


texts: "We met when we were studying" vs. "when we had studied"

texts:
Which one is correct?

  We met when we were studying in North Korea.
  We met when we had studied in North Korea.

Could you give me a detailed explanation please?


texts:
Is it wrong to say "every line has ten trees"?
Should I use "each" instead of "every" ?


texts: Someone who can't abide a joke against themselves

texts:
A direct excerpt from a book:

  'They can laugh at jokes; they read every book by P.G. Wodehouse and love his quiet humour; they can enjoy a joke against you. What they cannot abide is a joke against themselves.'

I'd like to know if there is a specific word(noun, adjective) for such people. I don't know how else to further explain my question. Pretty much everything is stated in the excerpt.
Post Answer EDIT: I'm not looking for words related to sensitive-brittle natured or synonyms.
Such people enjoy joke on others but not on themselves. Maybe I'm being too specific, but such people are not at all sensitive, thin skinned or else they wouldn't be making jokes on others.


texts: How should I use "ask" in "reported speech"?

texts:
Question:

  Mother said to me, "You had better to take an umbrella with you.

Possible answers:

  1.Mother asked me, that I had better to take an umbrella with me.

  2.Mother asked me to take an umbrella with me.

  3.Mother asked me that I should take an umbrella with me.

  4.Mother asked that you take an umbrella with you.

If I change this sentence into reported speech, which of the sentence is suitable?


texts: When to use "as" and what is the exact meaning of it

texts:
"Show them who the new boss in town is, and make quick work of them as Evie catches up to you."

What is the meaning of "as" here? And is there any other way to describe it without using as?


texts:
I want to know the word for person or group of people that I follow.
I tried searching on the internet and found nothing.


texts:
Sometimes I get puzzled whether to use a noun "science" or an adjective "scientific" to modify the following noun.
>

So, how could you determine, in general,which one is true?
>

Look at these examples

I would love to read science books.
I would love to read scientific books.

>

nervous cells
nerve cells


texts:
What does 'draw a bead' mean in the following extract?

  The fact of the matter for now is  that the divergence and diversity
  among the  languages is what we have to work with. When  more is
  understood, perhaps with some luck we  can draw a finer bead on the
  question of time  depth. However, for now, whether shallower or
  deeper, the relatively unknown age of human  occupation in the New
  World solves none of the  outstanding linguistic issues before us.


texts: meaning of "reassuring herself with that terrible euphemism ‘home’"

texts:
I'm reading The Versions of Us by Laura Barnett. One character's husband is suffering from Parkinson's disease and:

  "She pictured herself leaving, handing his care over to a nurse of
  whom they could expect no more than a distant, anonymous kindness;
  leaving him in a hospital somewhere, reassuring herself with that
  terrible euphemism ‘home’."

I don't understand what "reassuring herself with that terrible euphemism ‘home’ " means. The dictionary says that euphemism is "a mild, indirect, or vague term for one that is considered harsh, blunt, or offensive." But in this sentence, is "home" a mild term for hospital or what? Does this mean that she's trying to lie to herself that hospital can also be a home? Can anybody explain its meaning for me?


texts: What kinds of music you don't like? or What kinds of music don't you like?

texts:
What is more proper to say:

  What kinds of music you don't like?
   What kinds of music don't you like?

Can you please explain why?


texts:
From this answer:

  The screws (actually called "lag bolts") bite into the wood immediately around them, and the wood fibers around that hold the bolt in place.

I looked up the meaning of "lag bolt", and it's

  a heavy woodscrew with a square or hexagonal head that is driven in with a wrench

Why is it a "lag" bolt? What is the meaning of "lag" here? I've read all meanings at Wiktionary to no avail. Does it somehow relate to the meaning of "delay"?


texts:
I learned that verb spend followed by time or money usually go along with -ing form (with or without preposition on or in).

However, I found a sentence in TOEFL:

  The university should spend money to support activities where student can socialize with.

Now I am confused!

Is there any constraint with regard to spend money/time which I do not know?


texts: Is there a difference in meaning between "criticism of the police" and "THE criticism of the police"

texts:
A of B
consideration of B
use of B
destruction of B
B is an object of A
but in some cases, B becomes a subject: the arrival of the police (the police arrives)
So I am asking about what the difference is between:
criticism of the police (=sb criticizes the police?)
and
the criticism of the police (=police criticizes sth?)


texts:
What does "LIBEL ACT" mean? Does "the state of things was even more in evidence means that the situation was worse than England or not?

Even at the present day the air is charged with prejudice. If any man of standing at the present instant were to enter a London newspaper office and say that he had detected a medium in fraud, the matter would be seized upon eagerly and broadcast over the country; while if the same man proclaimed that he had beyond all question satisfied himself that the phenomena were true, it is doubtful if he would get a paragraph. The scale is always heavily weighted. In America, where there is practically no Libel Act, and where the Press is often violent and sensational, this state of things was—and possibly is—even more in evidence.

The History of Spiritualism   By A.C Doyle
XII: THE EDDY BROTHERS AND THE HOLMESES


texts:
Merriam Webster dictionaries define travesty as:
a debased, distorted, or grossly inferior imitation.
And among the examples of travesty, was a sentence which was:
It is a travesty and a tragedy that so many people would be denied the right to vote.
So, what the denial of right to vote is imitation of?


texts:
If "worry" is a verb, can I say the following?

  I worry about you.

Also I found these two sentences from Google Translate, but in the first one "worried" is an adjective, but in the second is is a verb. I really don't get how should I use it.

  He worried about his soldier sons in the war.
  Your mother and I were very worried about you.


texts:
Each boy was given a toy as a parting gift which made him|them happy

In this sentence which one should be correct "him" or "them" as it qualifies the distribute pronoun 'each'?


texts: "Seventeen days' notice" versus "seventeen day's notice"

texts:
Even in those days, this was incredibly rude! Giving the President of your country only seventeen days'' notice before making a speech, especially as he wasn’t top of the bill, would be unthinkable today! So, the day arrived, and Everett, well prepared, displayed his oratorical skills in a speech which lasted over two hours. Lincoln, on the other hand, spoke for just over two minutes.
  https://www.lingq.com/el/lesson/lesson-28-the-gettysburg-address-431424/

I guess there is a mistake in the above context. It should be seventeen day's notice, not seventeen days notice, but I am not sure. Am I right or not?


texts: The Difference between Revolving and Rotating

texts:
Given:

  The moon is a satellite of the earth, revolving around the earth once every twenty-nine and a half days. The moon itself rotates very slowly but it does so very slowly.

Question:

  How does the moon rotate around the earth?

Possible Answers:

  The moon rotates around the earth once every twenty-nine and a half days.
  The moon rotates around the earth, revolving very slowly.

Which answer is suitable, manner or interval?


texts:
The pass-through from weak sterling could thus be bigger than rules of thumb imply. The Bank of England’s latest inflation report already suggests that by 2017-18 inflation will be well above the 2% target, as commodity prices stop falling. Even this estimate may be conservative. Stock up on beer and ham before their prices rise, too.

(Is there anything wrong with the punctuation, I wonder?)

source: http://www.economist.com/news/britain/21707114-firms-may-struggle-absorb-extra-cost-pricier-imports-consumers-will-foot-bill-how


texts: i want to make a sentence that express about confidence

texts:
Nice to meet you.
I want to speak use easy word and be natural.
the situation like it.
i'm good at running. But there are many people who is run better.
so i want to say that "you guys run very well. so i ____________"
there are some examples i made...

so i have no confidence to run (i think it is not natural...)
so i feel dispirited to run (but "dispirited" little hard word..)

maybe.. there are some wrong grammar. but please let it slide!


texts: Which is the correct sentence? especially when using did

texts:
Assume person 1 meets person 2. Now person 1 asks person 2 whether you saw me yesterday night around the corner of the street. What I should say in reply.

  I did see you.

or

  I did saw you.


texts:
Are these sentences both right ? :

  Did you used to visit her ?

and

  Did you visit her ?


texts: Grammar of "There's lots of flavors out there"

texts:
This comes courtesy of one of the episodes of Friends:

  There's lots of flavors out there.

Shouldn't 're be used here in lieu of 's?


texts: If you are careful to do something, does it mean you do it carefully, or you are careful in order to do it? What is the function of the infinitival phrase?


texts:
Larson (1987) shows the following as well-formed:

(1) b. ii. I will have lived every place that John has lived.

I just wondered if the next example would be better formed.

I will have lived every place that John has.

[Larson, R. K. (1987). " Missing prepositions" and the analysis of English free relative clauses. Linguistic inquiry, 18(2), 239-266.]


texts:
We need a view that explains X. The next chapter proposes one such view.

  We need a view that explains X. The next chapter proposes such a view.

Which one of the above is more idiomatic?


texts:
One shower doesn't work and the fridge either.

Is it well said? One shower and the fridge doesn't work.


texts:
Is it possible to use the structure of a question but to make commands?

Like these ones.

  Don't you talk back to me young Landy.

  Oh, Don't you worry. I'll be fine.

I have another question.

Can simple present and present continuous also be used as imperative?

  You sit right there.

Think about a situation where someone is about to leave but you don't want them to. So you tell them: You sit right there.

Obviously you're not stating a fact that that person is sitting there but you're giving them command.

I have seen this kind of sentences in movies and series a lot(and I mean a lot ).

Am I right about them?
If they are not imperative, what are they?


texts:
Is it correct to use  “in the manner“ in sentence

  The word “you“ is used in the manner “u“ .

I mean Can “in the manner“ be used as “as“ .


texts:
The idiom "take a chance" means to do something risky, while "chance" by itself could mean "opportunity".
Could this:

  take an unnecessary chance

be wrong, because "unnecessary" obviously modifies "chance", and "unnecessary chance" would be read as a unit (unnecessary opportunity), and "take an unnecessary chance" does not have the idiomatic meaning of "take a chance"?

Would this:

  unnecessarily take a chance

, be better, because "unnecessarily" modifies the entire "take a chance" and the idiomatic meaning is preserved?


texts:
I have one query: is it valid to use "to" with "home"? Is this sentence is correct or not?

  I am going to home.

In this sentence we are using "to" with the word "home".

Is it correct?


texts:
Why this phrase is right: The hardened professional smuggler?

I think because hardened = professional, so it is weird to see the phrase: the hardened professional smuggler.

But I know that phrase is right, can you tell me why is it right?


texts: plural or singular for "The complete set of"

texts:
Is the following grammatical?

  The complete set of compositional structures that are used in this
  paper is provided in section 1.


texts:
I read some philosophy stuff about life and found some text with such a sentence at the end:

Why did not I do this sooner?

Shouldn't it be

Why didn't I do this sooner?

Why did I not do this sooner?

If you are interested, this is the source - https://www.saymore.in/letting-go-oftentimes-easier-holding/


texts: Why do we write yours sincerely instead of your sincerely. Here I think before sincerely we need a possessive adjective and 'your' is doing this job well.


texts: What is the passive of 'the teacher teaches us English'?

texts:
Active - The teacher teaches us English.

Passive - English is taught us by the teacher?

It doesn't sound correct but is it??


texts: Doubt about the correct word to use in this phrase

texts:
I was insecure about which verb use in this sentence between: allowed, eligible, permit and be able.

Only people who bought tickets were ___ to win a prize.

It has been told me from some English Natives (AmE) that eligible it's the one that would fit better in this context, the others would sound weird, they haven't told me why. Could you please clarify to me this doubt? Sometimes when you choose the wrong verb you can listen to the phrase and understand that it's not the best in that context because it sounds bad when you pronounce it, but this time, the phrase with the other options: allowed, be able to and permit, sounds good to me.
What's wrong?


texts: What's the right phrase for this situation? yell for, shout for, call someone or whatever

texts: Someone I know is walking across the street. In order to gain her or his attention I called the name loudly. What phrase should I use in this situation?  I remembered once a native speaker said like this, "I have to shout for my husband." At that time her husband was downstairs. But I might be wrong, because I cannnot find this expression in any dictionary. I found the phrase "yell for help" but not "yell for someone".   Could you tell me which phrase is most appropriate here?  Can I also say like, "I called my friend loudly on the street." or "I called my friend's name loudly."?


texts: Come off (Instead of "go off" or "derail")

texts:
Can "come off" be used instead of "derail"?

Like if a train goes off the tracks, can "come off" be used?

  The train came off the tracks.


texts:
Is this a relative clause when I say:

  I was there singing.

And

  I was there where I was singing.

are these sentences similar with each other?

Thank you!


texts: As If/As though - Which sentence should I use?

texts:
I comprehend As Though/if can take the present and past tense. The problem is that sometimes I don't know what are the nuances among those 3.
For instance:

  He looks as if *he knows it"

  He looks as if he knew it

  He looks as if he'd known it

Also, when changing the main clause to the past, should I use

  He looked as if he'd known it

  He looked as if he knew it

Thanks in advance


texts: Which definition is used for the verb "beset"?

texts:
Now reading this,, the 4th paragraph says,

  Iran has promised “harsh revenge" for the U.S. attack, which shocked Iranians across all political lines. Many saw Soleimani as a pillar of the Islamic Republic at a moment when it is beset by U.S. sanctions and recent anti-government protests.

Which definition is the above mentioned bold italic verb "beset" defined by?

From Merriam Unabridged,

  1a :  to set at intervals :  stud especially with ornaments

  b :  to cover especially with plant growth

  :  fill or strew especially with impediments

  2
  :  plague, trouble, harass :  weigh down :  dog, bedevil

  3
  a :  to set upon :  attack repeatedly :  assail

  b :  to lay siege to :  surround so as to compel surrender :  besiege

  c :  to occupy, take possession of, or overrun in such a way as to prevent free passage :  choke off :  blockade

  d (1) :  to close or hem in :  encompass, surround

  (2) :  to surround (something, such as a task or problem) with immaterial or nonphysical perils or obstacles

  (3) :  to surround (something, such as a ship) on all sides with ice so that free movement is totally checked — used of ice fields

Thank you for your support.


texts: What word best describes "to move your hand over a surface while pressing firmly"?

texts:
rub [intransitive, transitive] to move your hand, or something such as
  a cloth, backwards and forwards over a surface while pressing firmly →
  stroke

  rub your nose/chin/eyes/forehead etc

  She yawned and rubbed her eyes.

  rub something with something

  She began rubbing her hair with a towel.

  You’ll have to rub harder if you want to get it clean.

  I hurriedly rubbed myself dry.

the definition of the verb rub is  "to move your hand, or something such as a cloth, backwards and forwards over a surface while pressing firmly"

Now if I take "backwards and forwards" out of the definition, it will become "to move your hand, or something such as a cloth, over a surface while pressing firmly"

Do we have a verb to express it?

For example, "I want to get a massage, could you + "the verb (that expresses the above meaning" + all the way along my spine"


texts: Meaning - too **self-conscious** to bear

texts:
I naturally encountered the problem of
  choosing a pronoun to refer to someone who could be male or female. I
  dealt with this by treating the masculine pronoun as referring to anyone
  of either sex; I find the other, newer ways of handling the problem too
  self-conscious to bear.

Source: p X of Preface, The Legal Analyst, Ward Farnsworth

I'm guessing that Definition 2 applies:

  (Especially of an action or intention) deliberate and with full awareness, especially affectedly so:

Yet I still can't apprehend the meaning. Is the author saying that handing the problem is unnecessary, in that the problem isn't serious enough? Or is he submitting that it's truly a problem, but wants to cease consciousness of it? Please explain the steps or thought processes on how to determine this, for want of doing so by myself in the future?


texts: Can we say "with makeup" and "without makeup" instead of "with makeup on" and "without makeup on"?

texts:
Are all of the sentences below correct?

Do you know that girl with makeup?
Do you know that girl with makeup on?
Do you know that girl without makeup?
Do you know that girl without makeup on?
Do you know that girl who has makeup?
Do you know that girl who has makeup on?

Context: Let's say I am asking about a female I see at a party. I know we can say 2, 4 and 6. How about 1, 3 and 5? I think 5 is probably wrong but I am more neutral about 1 and 3.


texts: What is the difference between these two adjectives- befuddled and fuddled? Can they be used interchangeably?


texts: What's the difference between "if any" and "if anything"

texts:
In any case, parents should make clear what, if anything/if any, the child is expected to pay (for something) with the pocket money.

In the sentence above, which is more acceptable? What is the difference between the two phrases?


texts:
What is the difference between them?

  Earth was created for all lives, not just human life.

  Earth was created for all life, not just human life.

I found the second on http://thriveglobal.com/stories/animal-compassion But the first sentence I made up.


texts:
"DURSLEY!" he boomed.
  Uncle Vernon, who had gone very pale, whispered something that sounded like "Mimblewimble." Hagrid stared wildly at Harry.
   "But yeh must know about yer mom and dad," he said. "I mean, they're famous. You're famous."
  "What? My -- my mom and dad weren't famous, were they?"
  (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

What’s the reason that “Mimblewimble” starts with a capital letter?


texts: Does "old" literally mean "old" in this context, or is it an intensifier?

texts:
"Haven't I told you he's not going?" he hissed. "He's
going to Stonewall High and he'll be grateful for it. I've read those
letters and he needs all sorts of rubbish –– spell books and wands and
––"        "If he wants ter go, a great Muggle like you
won't stop him," growled Hagrid. "Stop Lily an' James Potter's son
goin' ter Hogwarts! Yer mad. His name's been down ever since he was
born. He's off ter the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the
world. Seven years there and he won't know himself. He'll be with
youngsters of his own sort, fer a change, an' he'll be under the
greatest headmaster Hogwarts ever had Albus Dumbled––"
    "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO
TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" yelled Uncle Vernon. (Harry Potter and the
Sorcerer's Stone)

Old is used as an intensifier, say these websites: Webster's #5; Wiktionary #12. So I guess the example's old has the meaning after an adjective crackpot. But I’m not sure, ‘cause the websites seem to kind of restrict the boundary of the use. Can old be used as an intensifier after all sorts of adjectives or adjective phrases?


texts: Confusion over the position of an adverb

texts:
We are taught that an adverb should be placed behind the verb it modifies or at the end of the sentence. For example: 1: I run quickly; 2: I love her deeply.

However, I see sentences in which the adverb has been placed in front of the verb it modifies. For example: They constantly are talking and listening to themselves.

My question is "Can an adverb be put either in front of or behind the verb it modifies, and is there any difference between them if I put the adverb in front instead of behind the verb?" The answer should be "Yes" to the first question, I reckon.

Therefore, the sentences below should both be correct:

  1: I can run quickly and I can quickly run
  2: I love her deeply and I deeply love her

but what about the answer to the second question?


texts: Difference between "Year ago" and "like a year ago"

texts:
I would like to know if there is any difference between "year ago" and "like a year ago". As far as I know "like a year ago" means "Nearly a year".

Also is it right to use "like a year ago" when duration is between 9 - 10 months.


texts: What does the phrase "buff your units" mean here?

texts:
Please help me figure out the meaning of the phrase "buff your units" in the following sentence (not available online):

  Planeswalkers are among the most powerful beings in this game and
  thanks to their magical abilities, they’ll buff your units and add the
  critical edge that’s essential for your victory.

The quoted sentence is from the description of the game Magic: ManaStrike. Here is a brief description of the game from a different source:

  Not only does ManaStrike use MtG characters, but it also uses the
  cards. This is perhaps the most interesting thing about the mobile
  title, at least to anyone who's a fan of MtG. Seeing how the creatures
  and spells I love are translated into a different style is
  fascinating.

  Take Giant Growth, for example, a card that gives a creature extra
  strength and defense in the card game. In ManaStrike, it provides a
  creature with additional health instead of strength.

Thank you for your time.


texts: what does "evolve" mean in this context?

texts:
"Before the G-7 meeting in Japan, several member countries indicated they understood that their individual and collective policy stances needed to evolve."

source: http://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-05-27/central-banks-can-t-go-it-alone-anymore


texts: Guess what’s in here? Cake! Why there is no "a" article?

texts:
Why does she say, "it’s cake," (instead of, "it’s a cake," or, "it’s the cake")? Why does she talk like a foreigner?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joUlxij0e8E&t=4m00s


texts:
What is the difference between using in possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns structures?

For example:

  You car is faster than my car. (possessive adjective)

Versus

  Your car is faster than mine. (possessive pronoun)

As I understand, both are the same, but I don't know what's more common or what less common in such contexts, or maybe I should avoid one of them. I want to sound fluent.


texts:
I just heard this in a video and the sentence goes like this:

  Her ride didn't show.

What does that mean?


texts: David didn't use to eat vegetables {when/since} he was a little boy

texts:
David didn't use to eat vegetables when he was a little boy.

On the condition that this sentence intends a past time meaning, which means that we finished to do something, then we can't use present perfect as seen.

  David didn't use to eat vegetables since he was a little boy.

Now it intends the meaning that is still in progress, David still doesn't like eating vegetables. Can you point out what I'm actually missing?


texts:
What does “systematic” mean in the sentence below?

  Marzuki Darusman, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK,  told the UN Human Rights Council on March 11th that many of the systematic patterns of human rights violations documented in the DPRK may constitute crimes against humanity, Mr. Darusman’s latest report provided a comprehensive overview of the human rights situation in the country since the inception of his mandate in 2004.Source: freeforallblog.org – UN Establishes Commission to Examine Rights Abuses in North Korea

Does it mean organized, methodical, or categorized?


texts: Is bitch in "Bitch please" a verb or a noun?

texts:
Is "bitch" in "Bitch please" expression a verb or a noun?
Is it calling the listener a bitch as in "bitch, please" or is it some kind of provocation as in "bitch (more) please (I don't really care)"?


texts:
As I have checked some online dictionaries, I have found 'shorten' and 'shrink' as opposites of the 'stretch' word. But, I am not sure, yet.

As an example, suppose that shrink is the correct word, then I say in this figure

I am shrinking the plot from top to bottom or stretching vice-versa.


texts: Why do we use "a" in front of "unique" instead of "the"?

texts:
When I read math books, I see sentences such as

  x=2 is a unique solution of the equation.

I interpret the word unique as only one. As far as I know, a is used for something arbitrary, while the is used for something unique. Then shouldn't we use the in front of unique? Or maybe I am misunderstanding the meaing of unique. Is the following sentence correct?

  The Moon is a unique satellite of the Earth.


texts:
What are the differences between gerund and present participle?
Is the following a case of present participle?
People joining the association will have to pay.


texts: Focus on fields "in which" vs "that" you can become good at

texts:
Focus on fields in which you can become good at.
vs
Focus on fields that you can become good at.


texts:
Someone posts a picture of a drink with the caption: "I got the tapioca drink so I'm relaxing now." Is that considered correct grammar?

I thought it was fine, with "the" maybe implying a choice of flavours or something, but a couple of others disagreed and said it should DEFINITELY be "I got A tapioca drink"

They were US English and I'm UK English, so I wondered if it's maybe differing language nuances. Or I'm just completely wrong.

Either outcome is fine for me, I'm just curious. Any thoughts?


texts: When to use below sentence construction while talking about past?

texts:
He took the police to the spot where his friend had been killed by Xyz.

And

He took the police to the spot where his fried was killed by Xyz.

Also

She stood up and went to exit.

And

She had stood up and went to exit.


texts: Is it incorrect to say "he/she is the perfect body type"?

texts:
The common form would be: "he/she has the perfect body type."

Would it be strange to say: "he/she is the perfect body type"?

Google only return 2 results.


texts: Can I omit "people" after "more and more"?

texts:
Can I omit the word "people" after "more and more", taking into account that "people" had already appeared in the same sentence?

This is my case:

  He thought that, if he portrayed himself as a kind of prophet fighting a crowd of unbelievers, the skepticism of the people would diminish and more and more would accept his account as something that really happened.


texts: I’ve heard the expression “someone’s been drinking/drank the cool aid” multiple times. I know coolaid is a drink or something but it doesn’t really make sense in the context. I feel like there’s some type of cultural reference here. Could someone explain what this means?


texts:
In a presentation I'm watching now there are phrases like "ranked for stability", "ranked for priority". It looks strange to me. I think it should be "ranked by". So which is correct?

Example: Requirements are ranked by priority.


texts: what's the difference between "the summer holiday" and "the summer holidays"?

texts: "I'll go to visit my aunt in England as soon as the summer holidays start." Does "the summer holidays" refer to many days in the holiday, or many different summer holidays? I prefer to regard the summer holiday as a whole, so I tend to use the singular form.


texts:
What is the difference between "go in to work" and "go to work"?

Initially, I stumbled on go in to work watching Big Bang Theory movie series, an episode where Sheldon got fired, and Penny asked him

  How come you didn't go in to work today?

But after I try to google it I found that both expressions seem to be quite common though scrutinizing of those google hits doesn't help me to understand a difference in using. Meanings of both seem to be the same to me.


texts: What does “moon” mean in these two quotes?

texts:
Bane walked over to stand next to Ronan. He looked skyward.

  "Mars is bright tonight," he said simply.

  "We've heard," said Hagrid grumpily. "Well, if either of you do see
  anythin', let me know, won't yeh? We'll be off, then."

  Harry and Hermione followed him out of the clearing, staring over
  their shoulders at Ronan and Bane until the trees blocked their view.

  "Never," said Hagrid irritably, "try an' get a straight answer out of
  a centaur. Ruddy stargazers. Not interested in anythin' closer'n the
  moon."

  (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, p254)

  At one point Mark even counseled Denny that perhaps the best thing for
  Zoe would be to stay with her grandparents, as they were better able
  to provide for the comforts of her childhood, as well as pay for her
  college education, when that became necessary. Further, Mark
  suggested, were Denny not to be the principal caregiver for Zoe, he
  would be much more able to accept instructing and driving jobs out of
  state, as well as participate in racing series worldwide, if he so
  chose. He noted that a child needs a stable home environment, which,
  he said, could be best provided in a single housing location and with
  consistent schooling, preferably in the suburbs, or at a private
  school in an urban neighborhood. Mark assured Denny he would settle
  for nothing short of a liberal visitation schedule. He spent quite a
  long time convincing Denny of these truths.

  I wasn’t convinced. Of course, I understood that a race car driver
  must be selfish. Success at any endeavor on an elite level demands
  selfishness. But for Mark Fein to say Denny should put his own needs
  above the needs of his family because concurrent success in both
  fields was impossible was simply wrong. Many of us have convinced
  ourselves that compromise is necessary to achieve our goals, that all
  of our goals are not attainable so we should eliminate the extraneous,
  prioritize our desires, and accept less than the moon. But Denny
  refused to yield to that idea. He wanted his daughter and he wanted
  his racing career and he refused to give up one for the other.

  (Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain, p246)

It seems moon has the meaning of ideal or the best one, but I don’t find them in dictionaries. Do they come from as an implicature or can I find them in any dictionaries?


texts:
Suppose A and B usually come together. For example 10 units of A and 10 units of B. However, sometimes you may have 15 units of A and 10 units of B.

  I want to say that A is in excess .... B. Or there is an excess of A ... B

I don't know how to fill the blanks above. Is it "to", "than"?


texts:
Is it correct and natural to use the name of washing cycles on a washer as adverbs when you wash something? For example:

  If you don't want to ruin your shirt, wash it delicate.

  If you want your laundry done as soon as possible, wash it quick.

If the sentences don't sound natural, what would a native English speaker say?


texts:
It’s hard to imagine me doing that crime

It’s hard to imagine I doing that crime

It’s hard to imagine my doing that crime

Which of the above three sentences is correct? My grammar book said we should use possessive form of noun or pronoun before gerund as in sentence 3. So is it correct? If all are correct, what is the difference in meaning?


texts: Phrases in the same family as "vice versa"

texts:
I'm looking for phrases that are in the same vein as "vice versa". Not necessarily synonyms, like "conversely", but other phrases with a similar framework and origin. They don't have to be commonly used. (If they were, I'd probably have been able to find them).

To be more specific, I'm looking for Latin phrases that can be used in the same manner as "vice versa". In the same way that "vice versa" means "conversely", I figure there must be a similarly structured phrase that means "similarly", or something to that effect, as well as several others.

I am writing a character for a short story who grew up speaking Latin. I envision him using a lot of Latin phrases, as a remnant of his upbringing, however I cannot think of any at all.

I cannot give any examples, unfortunately, which is why I'm asking this question in the first place.


texts: My dog is very silly ; he is always running out into the road. What does running out into mean?


texts: “Usually” in the beginning of the sentence to achieve parallelism

texts:
Guard statements
They’re usually useful, but there are also cases where they make the code less readable or at least give nothing.
here goes an example

Guard statements
Usually, they’re useful, but there are also cases where they make the code less readable or at least give nothing.
here goes an example

As far as I know, to start a sentence with usually is usually not a good idea.
Is it acceptable to start a sentence with usually to achieve parallelism as shown in my second example?
To show it schematically:

The 1st version: Useful -- usually, sometimes -- useless.
The 2nd version: Usually -- useful, sometimes -- useless. The 2nd version provides a symmetry between "adverb" and "adjective" in each pair, the 1st one doesn't.

Which sentence you think is better?


texts: Usage "on" or "about" in "Some observations on/about..."

texts:
The complete sentence is "Some observations on metamorphoses of French lyric opera". It is intended to be the title of an article.
Which preposition -- "on" or "about" -- should I use after "observations"?

Incidentally, should I use the definite article in this context? Which phrase is correct:
1. Some observations on/about the metamorphoses of French lyric opera.
2. Some observations on/about metamorphoses of the French lyric opera.
3. Some observations on/about the metamorphoses of the French lyric opera.
4. Some observations on/about metamorphoses of French lyric opera.


texts: What does it mean "the course of evolution" in the following context?

texts:
I've read the following context which mentions the word "course of evolution" and I don't think that the meaning is in the simple meaning of course, like a course in the university. It seems to me something like "part of time" or period, but I am not sure even though I checked the definition in the dictionary, but to be honest it's not clear to me (probably because I'm non Native English speaker)

  "Our starting point for exploring the nervous system is the neuron, a
  cell type exemplifying the close fit of form and function that often
  arises over the course of evolution"


texts:
I want to express my idea diversely. So I want to know these are all possible to use.

  My first few weeks with my girlfriend, I was so nervous that I made a lot of mistakes.

I think it is possible without any doubts.

  The first few weeks that I spent with my girlfriend, I was so nervous that I made a lot of mistakes.

yes, possible to use

  The first few weeks, when My girlfriend and I were new to each other, I was so nervous that I made a lot of mistakes.

Here, 'when ...each other' clause specify 'the first few weeks'. So I think it is possible. and 'were new to each other' could mean some specific time 'period' not a time point, which make sense with 'first few weeks'(time period)

  The first few weeks, when I started to date her, I was so nervous that I made a lot of mistakes.

I don't think it's possible because 'the first few weeks' represents duration, but 'started to date' represent a specific time point.


texts: Difference between "How are you doing and How are you"

texts:
What is the difference between:

  How are you doing?

and:

  How are you?

Do they use in informal speaking or not?

Also, what is the function of the verb 'doing' in that first sentence?


texts: what does "drive one's hands together" mean?

texts:
Here's the sentence:
Inside her muff, Anna drove her hands together.

I can't find the meaning of the expression anywhere.
I thought "clasped her hands" but not sure.


texts: Can we use "there is" a main clause? and independent clause starts with a word "then"?

texts:
1."This is because they have already gone thier home". In this sentence "because they have already gone thier home" is an dependent clause of independent clause "there is". Here my doubt is "there is" main clause?
2."We went to the movie and then we went to restaurant near the theatre". In this sentence "then we went to restaurant near the theatre" is a independent clause. Here my doubt is, can we start independent clause with "then"?


texts:
It was that which made him decide to resign that summer,when he was sixty five.

I could not understand why the writer used both relative pronouns (that,which) together?


texts:
"I'm pretty sure Antoine Griezmann is going to score the most goals this World Cup," he said.

Vs

  "I'm pretty sure Antoine Griezmann is going to score the most goals in this World Cup," he said.

Is "this" preceded by "in" preposition in the above example? Or not?


texts: Turn "She made me wait for two hours" into passive voice

texts:
She made me wait for two hours.

How to change this sentence into passive voice?
I changed it like this:

  I was made to wait for two hours.

What are your views?


texts:
Please review sentence below and advise if the use of "life's" is correct.

  Unlocking life's potential for young adults.


texts: on (the) Monday after next, article meaning?

texts:
I would like to know, whether:

  It will take place on the Monday after next.
  It will take place on Monday after next.
  It will take place on the Monday after next week.

I have seen all versions. Why the "the" is sometimes omitted and is the "week" (as in the third version) necessary?

I have also seen on the week before last and on week before last


texts: Product descriptions without definite / indefinite articles

texts:
I have read a review on Amazon and most products descriptions are written without definite / indefinite articles. Does it happen because of headlinese?

For instance, this is a part of the product description for baby bottles:

  Safe in microwave, boiling water, dishwashers and sterilizers

  Nipple and body is made of 100% safe hygienic silicone

I would wrote:

  Safe in a microwave, boiling water, dishwashers and sterilizers

  The Nipple and the body is made of 100% safe hygienic silicone


texts: Should there be "the" in "Agriculture depends on (the) weather"?

texts:
Should there be "the" in

  The economy of the region relies on agriculture, which in turn depends on (the) weather.

Thanks!


texts: Present simple and present progressive to describe current action, limited duration, temprary state

texts:
Are the simple present and the progressive interchangeable in the sentences below?
For example, 1. "They live/are living in poverty" (a current state-is expressed by the progressive but with the present simple it refers to a fact. So if I am talking about a current state I shouldn't use the present simple.
Changes: 2. "The climate is getting warmer" (the climate gets warmer isn't probably natural if I am talking about a current situation and the changes in it).
Current trend: 3. "Schoolchildren are carrying heavy schoolbags." If I say "Schoolchildren carry" it would refer to a fact. It's not wrong if I want to express that.

Temporary action/current situation and limited duration if all three mean the same thing: "I am living in Paris" and "I am woking in a bank" ( usually I work in an office). If I always work there then the progressive isn't correct.

If my comments are correct then  either tense is correct in my sentences but it depends on what we wish to express.
I am not sure temporary actions,  current situations and limited duration all three mean the same thing.


texts: As i mean what does mean ''I'm to do or you are to take''? this is a future event but i couldn't get it. What's difference I'll do and I'm gonna do? Also can you give me example about this?  Be + verb form


texts: How to understand "of longing the discovery of the broken mirror had occasioned" in this sentence

texts:
Then he placed the fragment on top of that morning's Daily Prophet, which lay unread on the bed, and attempted to stem the sudden upsurge of bitter memories, the stabs of regret and of longing the discovery of the broken mirror had occasioned, by attacking the rest of the rubbish in the trunk.

  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I don't quite understand "of longing the discovery of the broken mirror had occasioned". According to dictionaries, 'occasion' is a transitive verb, meaning "to cause", but here it's used as an intransitive verb and the sense "to cause" doesn't seem to fit. So, I'm confused.

What's the phrase "of longing the discovery of the broken mirror had occasioned" modifying, "the stabs" or "the sudden upsurge"?

And what does it mean exactly?


texts: What does "relevant research" in this case mean?

texts:
True, we still don’t have the acumen to achieve this, but there seems to be no insurmountable technical barrier preventing us from producing superhumans . The main obstacles are the ethical and political objections that have slowed down research on humans. And no matter how convincing the ethical arguments may be, it is hard to see how they can hold back the next step for long, especially if what is at stake is the possibility of prolonging human life indefinitely, conquering incurable diseases, and upgrading our cognitive and emotional abilities. What would happen, for example, if we developed a cure for Alzheimer’s disease that, as a side benefit, could dramatically improve the memories of healthy people? Would anyone be able to halt the relevant research?

What does the relevant research   imply here?


texts: Is there always a "the" before a superlative adjective?

texts:
For example:

  I could not face being alone again and losing the person dearest to me.

I wonder why there is no "the" in front of "dearest".


texts: What is the meaning of "x places away from"?

texts:
I've seen a sentence Ram sits three places away from Shyam while solving a puzzle.

Does it mean Ram sits fourth to shyam or Ram sits third to shyam?

I understood it as Ram sits fourth to Shyam but I'm not sure of that.

I've found an explanation on this website.

But they didn't make it clear. I want to here explanations from you.

Is the meaning of away is ambiguous.

Can you please explain its meaning to me?


texts: Does "it" refer to **the letter** or **Norway's Ministry of Finance** in this context?

texts:
Does it refer to the letter or Norway's Ministry of Finance?

"The letter has now been sent to Norway's Ministry of Finance who will conduct their own assessment and will then make a decision following parliamentary deliberations in June 2018. It's unlikely to have an immediate effect on the fixed income market — as it does not stipulate that the bank has to sell its existing holdings. But traders think such a move could set a precedent for others in the future and could have negative repercussions for emerging markets and Japan."

Source:https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/06/the-worlds-biggest-sovereign-wealth-fund-wants-to-change-its-strategy--and-the-effects-could-be-global.html


texts: How is it possible to use past simple here?

texts:
Last summer I visited places where I spent my childhood. The trees my father planted when I was a child had become big tall trees.

When you use 'spent' without had, it gets equated with the time when you visited i.e. last summer

I don't understand how it is possible in that case to write this first sentence without had, how it is possible that "spent gets equated with the time when you visited i.e. last summer" first you spent your childhood then you visited ,for me visited can't get equated with the time when you visited. Can somebody explain it to me


texts:
Let’s say you have a wedding on a Thursday. If someone says they booked a hotel for “the night before and the night after the wedding”, do you understand that to be Wed/Thu or Wed/Fri?
If the former, shouldn’t you instead say “the night before and the night of”?


texts: Can we use 'take off' with the bottle cap?

texts:
is  it correct, if I use 'take off the bottle cap' meaning as unstop the bottle cap'?

thank you so much :)


texts:
As she falls down, she tries to catch something.

Is it a bad writing style to start sentences with "As" like above? I know the above sentence can be written as "She tries to catch something as she falls down", but my question is whether starting with "As" is considered as bad style or poor writing?


texts:
Dressed in black, everyone attended his funeral.
Dressing up in black, everyone attended his funeral.

Is dressed and dressing interchangeable? They both seem ok to me.


texts:
A quick Google search tells that the meaning of in is:

  expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else.

and the meaning of into is:

  expressing movement or action with the result that someone or something becomes enclosed or surrounded by something else.

But in my line of work people usually seem to use these words as they are interchangeable when they talk of values and registers.
I wonder which one of these sentence would be grammatically correct.

  Put the value in register A and start executing the program.
  Put the value into register A and start executing the program.

Furthermore, how this usage would change if the word Put is replaced with Load. Would it be in, into, on or onto?

PS : For those who know English but not computers, a Register is simply a location in computer's memory to hold a value.


texts:
Is that right to ask someone formally

  Are you going to write GRE this month?

or what would be the correct form of

  Are you going to write GRE this month?


texts: Difference between "hardly someone" and "hardly anyone"

texts:
The following construction is considered nonstandard in English

  Nowadays, hardly someone studies ancient Greek.

It should be

  Nowadays, hardly anyone studies ancient Greek.

And although the sentence below is positive, the determiner some should not be used.

  She's been dieting since August, but she's hardly lost some weight.

Instead, the correct formula is:

  She's been dieting since August, but she's hardly lost any weight.

I think the explanation is that hardly carries a negative meaning, so in English any, and its composites (anyone, anything, anywhere etc.) is preferred.

Short Rule

English Cambridge Dictionary has a short sweet excerpt

  Hardly any, hardly ever

  We often use hardly before any, anyone, anybody, anything and ever in negative clauses, but not before no, none, no one, nobody, nothing or never:

  At first, hardly anyone came. (almost no one came)

  Not: At first hardly no one came.

  There was hardly anything to eat.

  She lives in Scotland so we hardly ever see her now, but I like to keep in touch.

Grammar books will recite that any (when it is a quantifier) is usually used in negative and question forms, but in positive sentences, such as; "I don't mind, anyone can come and visit" and "Anyone can boil an egg", the word anyone means "it does not matter who" or "everyone".

The exception that proves the rule (?)

However in the  following two examples:

  It's hardly someone's fault, is it?
  It's hardly anyone's fault, is it?

I don't find No.1 to be ungrammatical or nonstandard. I'm sure I've read this type of remark many times in my lifetime.

Is sentence No.1 acceptable, and grammatical?

A user in the comments  suggested that the first version is preferable, and:

  In #1 (which is grammatical) what is being negated is the idea that someone is to blame: hardly {somebody's fault}

and also

  If the intended meaning is "It was an accident or an Act of God and no person is to blame for it, and to seek to blame someone would be unfair" then "It's hardly someone's fault" is idiomatic. Or "it's nobody's fault" @Tromano

Is the first sentence considered; informal, nonstandard or ungrammatical by grammarians?
What is the difference in meaning between the two sentences?


texts: Why is "Their insistence was that ..." incorrect, when "His fear is that ..." is correct?

texts:
Their insistence that the meetings should be held at lunch-time angered the staff. (correct)
  *Their insistence was that the meetings should be held at lunch time. (incorrect)
  His fear that he might lose his job was increasing. (correct)
  *That he might lose his job was increasing. (incorrect)
  His fear is that he might lose his job. (correct)

I was reading about subordinate clauses, and came to know that they are not same as noun phrase. Though sometimes they might act similarly, they are not same.

Well, I found those sentences in CGEL, some are marked as correct and some are as incorrect.

My question is why #2 is incorrect, when #5 is correct?

Please help.


texts: When can I use infinitive "be" after WH question words?

texts:
I watched 'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl' yesterday, and I've heard some phrases which include 'be' after question words in the bare infinitive form. For example: "Where be Jack's hat?"
How does it work, what is the structure, and what are the rules of using this structure?


texts: Are "academic" and "academical" completely equivalents? What about "academically"? (vs. "scholar", "scholarly")

texts:
I would like to know how "academical" compare to "academic", and, since we're here, how they both compare to "scholar".

Also, there are two adjectives ("academic" and "academical") but only one adverb ("academically"), right? Is there an adverb derived from "scholar", such as "scholarly"? If yes, how do these two adverbs relate and differ?

Thank you very much in advance.


texts:
So I understand that comma should not be added before a “that” when it serves as a relative pronoun or conjunction. But I just encountered this sentence:

“I noticed right away how meticulous he was, that for him there is no such thing as a trifling concern, every case was important and required attention and care.”

What is the function of the “that” here? Adverb?


texts: What to call a lady you are dating,esp. secretly, even though you are married?

texts:
What to call a lady you are dating,especially secretly, even though you are married?

I think the word mistress can be used but  it sounds as if it is an outdated word,which we use it in my own language, and it connotes a situation as if the married guy is richer than the girl and kind of fends for her. But I am here talking about a regular relationship that people love each other without material expectations.

And is there a guy version of it as well?

An another related question is that what is the difference between paramour and girlfriend.

Can you introduce your girlfriend or boyfriend as a paramour like :

let me introduce my paramour ...


texts:
I am sorry that I hit you.
I am sorry for having hit you.
I am sorry for hitting you.

Are all these possibly talking about a past event?


texts:
I am plagued by a problem with the bead-roll of nouns that are mentioned as the list in the parentheses.
Here are this sentence:

  If the hardware has sustained damage or some of its components (i.e. keyboard, paper tray, etc.) are missing...

Should I put the articles like this:

  (i.e. a keyboard, a paper tray, etc.)

Or articles need to be omitted in such case?


texts: Semantic nuance between the phrasal verb "figure out" and the verb "grasp"

texts:
According to the dictionary definitions the phrasal verb figure out and the verb grasp can indicate very similar meanings and it strikes me that one can use them interchangeably. This is why I came to this question that how shall one distinguish them in a manner that he/she could use each one in a more appropriate case?!

Please have a look on the dictionary examples bellow:

  Could you help me figure out this problem?
  It takes most people some time to figure out new software.
  The detective couldn't figure out the death reason!
  He couldn't figure out anything about them.
  I've read this book twice, but still I don't grasp it.
  I couldn't grasp what he was trying to say.

As far as I am concerned, in all cases above, these two verbs can be replaced freely in the manner that both sentences convey an identical message to the reader! Am I right? If so, then is it a matter of personal preference when to use them or there is something that I am missing it?


texts:
Something that “run through sb's head/mind” means in Cambridge dictionary as follows:

"If something is running through your head/mind, you cannot stop thinking about it or singing it silently:
I've had that tune running through my head all day."

The dictionary doesn't list a second meaning but I heard it used in a different way on a YouTube video:

"If you are an ESL student where English is your second language and you say “hiking is funny” a native speaker will run through his mind "Why is hiking funny?” it doesn't really make sense. Or “Going to an amusement park is fun” that's the correct way to say it."

Tutor Nick P Lesson (5) What Is the Difference Between Fun & Funny
Is the second sentence true? Can I say "I run through my mind my girlfriend" or "My girlfriend run through my mind", or maybe both of them are true.
"Object + run through + one's mind" or "Subject + run through + one's mind"? Which one of them are true?
Many thanks in advance.


texts: "Playing games (by myself / myself / alone)" - Grammar and nuance?

texts:
Q1. Here, I think all of them are right to use, but I want to know if there's any difference in nuance.

  Playing computer games (by myself / myself / alone) can be fun for a certain amount of time, but it usually becomes boring.

Q2. I'd like to know if 'The fact' can be used as a subject here, and I know I can use 'alone' here, but I want to know if the others are possible to mean the same thing. And which one makes the most sense: after that / after a while / at some point?

  The fact that I have a girl friend can be great for a certain amount of time, but (after that / after a while / at some point) I start to think I wish I was (alone / by myself / myself).


texts: Correct word for lesson where teacher was replaced by another teacher

texts:
What is the the correct term for a lesson where the teacher was replaced by a different teacher, because he was ill?

Is it called a substitution (lesson)?

Even further: What would a plan of these lessons be called?
Substitution board?


texts: How do you say the title that some teacher has?

texts:
For example, if he graduates in Physical Education and he teach it, can I put: Licensed (teaching) in Physical Education or graduate in Physical Education.
Or, what do you recommend me?


texts: The source code can be 'extended by' or 'extended with' line (s) of code

texts:
I would like to say "The source code can be extended by/with line(s) of code"

Which word (by or with) is more appropriated and what is the difference in the meaning?


texts:
Here are two sentences with one's health and his health :

  One should take care of one's health.

  One should take care of his health.

Do the meaning differs if we add own in these sentences as follows :

  One should take care of one's own health.

  One should take care of his own health.

Next,

Here is a sentence with oneself and one's :

  One needs to provide food for onself and one's family.

Can I use use himself and his in the place of oneself and one's as :

  One needs to provide food for himself and his family.

It seems the gender bias pronoun Himself and his exclude women even If I have used them to refer to both man and woman.


texts: How to use' Future Continuous Tense ' for parallel actions in future?

texts:
For example
I am going to be cooking food and he is going to be washing dishes in the next month party.

OR

I am going to be cooking food while he washes dishes in the next month party.

Are both the sentences correct ?


texts:
Most movies are fine with me.
  Most movies are OK with me.

Are they both correct?
Are there any other options?


texts: Can somebody ask this way: What's the story called?

texts:
My daughter was practicing writing sentences from some stories. When I read the sentence below and wondered about sliding into place, she shrugged her shoulders.

  Everyone slid into place

I then asked her about the context and the source, and said "what is the story called anyway?"

I know you would ask about books by title/entitle, but honestly I rarely hear people in conversations ask about stories or books with the word title/entitle in their question.

Would asking about books titles by using the word called still sound natural?

If not, what other informal ways of asking about the book other than using the word title?

Note Well, it turned out that people do use call to ask about publications. I remember I used a collocations dictionary but did not find what I was looking for: call + book. However, my question is still about books whether they are stories or not.

Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary

Call

  NAME
  1.  transitive + object + noun to give someone or something a name, or to know or address someone by a particular name

  • They've called the twins Katherine and Thomas.

  • What's that actor called that we saw in the film last night?

  • His real name is Jonathan, but they've always called him 'Johnny'.

  • What's her new novel called?

  • I wish he wouldn't keep calling me 'dear' - it's so patronising!


texts: difference: should sleep or should be sleeping

texts:
In the following sentence, are both "sleep" and "be sleeping" correct? If so, what's the difference?

When can I leave? I should sleep / should be sleeping at home now.


texts:
"The Canadian smiled at his opponent as they went to their corners. It was not a smile that said, ‘I got this now.’"

In ‘I got this now.’, what seems a grammatical reason for this (apostrophes)? Why, and when, may you use these, if you can, in other writing?


texts:
This text was written by coffee1054 in this question:

  You can feel that it is impossible for resistance be strictly equal to
  zero, because may be it follows us to some contradiction with Ohm's law.

Which would be idiomatic here, "can feel" or "might feel"? What is the difference?


texts: Is there an adjective that describes the shape of jigsaw puzzle pieces? I am pretty sure there's an adjective for it, but I am not sure I can think of any.


texts: What is the grammatical function of the bold phrase in the sentence?

texts:
Some of the world's oldest preserved art is the cave art of Europe,
  most of it in Spain and France.

The above sentence is from IELTS test reading passage, and it is oral English. I want to make sure that the grammatical function of 'most of it in Spain and France' in the sentence. In my opinion, it is a parenthesis, which is to add some new information to the main sentence. This is because there is a comma in front of it. But I am not sure if it's possible that it is the complement of the subject or not.

So I need your kind help.


texts:
Meaning of creep in Cambridge Dictionary is

  someone who tries to make someone more important like them by being very polite and helpful in a way that is not sincere

What is the meaning of "more important" here?


texts:
Let's suppose we have a sentence:

  If I see John I will tell him you are looking for him.

Now how should I put it in reported speech in the past? Like this:

  Mike said that if he saw (?) John he would tell him I was (?) looking for him.

Is it correct?


texts:
I'm curious about what article should I use. I want to ask the following question:

  Does [a/the] binary search algorithm imply distinct keys?

On the one hand, binary search algorithm is one of many searching algorithms. On the other hand, I'm not talking about a search algorithm in general but I'm talking about the specific one.


texts: A word for materials everything is made of

texts: If I'm talking about stuff things are made of (e.g. the brick is made of wood) or about materials as such not concrete objects (e.g. butter as material not as a pack of butter or the matter "inside" stones) is "substance" the most general term? I mean both artificial and natural objects.


texts: I have applied for leave of absence today/ for today

texts:
I have applied for leave of absence for today.
I have applied for leave of absence today.

I think there is some difference in meaning between the two sentences.

I think the sentence 1 means specifically that I applied for leave of absence for oneday that is today.

The second sentence means I have applied for  leave of absence today. It does not specify whether the leave of absence is for today or for some more days.

I would like to know whether I am correct or wrong.

I herewith attach the link which I have searched.

https://textranch.com/79386/i-have-applied-for-leave/or/i-have-applied-leave/


texts:
Few lines from a NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE are as follows:

  This certificate is presented to claim no objection on Mr./ Mrs.___________________, in case, if some other company is hired services for any or specific purpose/s.......

My confusions are:

We normally use objection to something but here we have on.
Using if and in case together.
Meaning of company is hired service. (hire someone / something service)

These instances seems utterly odd to me, please explain these instances.

Thanks in advance.


texts: Can I say "less bigger" or "more weaker" and similar phrases?

texts:
Suppose that

A is bigger than B
B is bigger than C

Now, is it fine if I say,

  Compared to A, B is less bigger than C?

If so, in this context, can I remove the first part in the almost formal settings like an academic writing?

  B is less bigger than C?


texts: problem in understanding of this context

texts:
And, in turn, adaptation for new and evolving use cases will be a
  critical differentiator moving forward. It’s important to note that this
  is no longer just a technology discussion, and the lens must zoom
  out to consider changes to the entire business model.

I don't know the meaning of this "critical differentiator moving forward" and "is no longer just a technology discussion"
I know the meaning of each word but I have problem in the meaning of whole sentence.


texts: I am in progress of something, it's that right?

texts:
What should I say when I am in progress of what I am doing? Is this right?

  I am in progress of became a teacher.


texts:
Two of my sheep were found dead this morning, so it seems that/appears that/looks like there's a wolf in the area.
Would "seems that", "appears that", and "looks like" all be natural to use here?


texts:
He was empty-handed.

Is it suitable if I change this sentence into

  His hands were empty.

In my point of view, the second sentence cannot describe "his unsuccessful task".Because "empty-handed" means "without getting what you hope".


texts:
From the Cambridge Dictionary

day off: a day when you do not work

I understand the meaning of it.  This post is focused on the opposite of it.
Consider the following conversation.

Anthony: "Where were you last night?  I was trying to drop by you."
Kevin: "I worked late. I didn't get off work until midnight."

Even though I didn't find the definition on the Merriam-Webster dictionary or the Cambridge Dictionary, I’m pretty sure "someone gets off work" means the employee gets the permission to stop working and go home.
The question is whether "off from work" means the same thing.
Ngram Viewer shows that both are in use, though the latter seems to have a different meaning.
Do they mean the same thing? If not,  what does "off from work" mean? Does "off from work" go with the meaning at the beginning of the post?


texts: A word meaning "a man who leers at women"

texts:
I am trying to find an exact translation into English of a word meaning "a man who openly stares at women in a lascivious way". I am aware of several verbs that describe the activity, but no nouns.

I found ogler but it doesn't sound like a real word for me, and lecher seems to have too broad a meaning.

Is there another word that's more suitable, and more widely used?


texts: Why do these sentences use "them" and not "their"?

texts:
I wonder all the time why one of the Alice in Chains songs is named "Them Bones"? Shouldn't it be "their"? The whole verse goes like this "I believe them bones are me," and in my opinion it should use the possessive pronoun "their."
The same with name of the band "All Them Witches". I would say "All Their Witches"—then it would make sense to me, but clearly there's something I just don't know and don't understand.


texts: great good luck or greatly lucky for using in a sentence

texts:
I found the usage of ''great good luck'' on ngram.
But I can't found ''greatly lucky''. So, please  advise  me whether I can use  ''greatly lucky'' in my writing.


texts:
BBC channel is not being broadcast in our area for a year ago.
  BBC channel has not being broadcasted in our area for a year ago.

Which one is grammatical? Depending upon time span I think number two is grammatically correct.


texts:
I need to describe a situation when one is not able to help something. For instance my friend came home and found that the Internet is down. She calls me and asks something like this:

  ... Can you do anything to help me out?

I am willing to help but I am not at home and cannot think of a real way to help localizing the problem. Which of the following do I use to better express my uselessness for the cause?

  I cannot do anything to help.
  I can do nothing to help.

Is there any noticable difference in the meaning? Which variant is more natural?


texts:
Can I speak so?:

  Who sits near you? - Near me sits a boy....
  Near the shed was flying a swallow when I looked into the window


texts:
I'm searching for a word that explains 'yuck' expression of mine. I mean it's not that there is fear. Nor do I dislike...but it's something like 'yuck!'

For example, if I see a worm, I get irritated. I am not scared of it but it's something like I may throw up.

Disgusting is pretty close but not sure if there's any better word to describe my feeling.

It happens when I see a worm, or filthy place, or a cockroach...and so on.

Question is: I'm not afraid of worms, but I just feel _________.


texts: Understanding to trade our tin foil hats for helmets

texts:
Reading about alien hunters that claim to have found evidence of life on Mars I came across this sentence:

  But let's not trade our tin foil hats for helmets and prepare for Mars to attack just yet

which really has thrown me for a loop.

I know that our tin foil hats refer to our paranoia but trading them for helmets, would metaphorically mean to exacerbate our paranoia? That's what I understand from the context but I'm not completely sure.


texts:
From the TV series The Universe:

  The speed of light is the ultimate velocity in the universe. lt's Einstein's cop on the block. The speed of light is so fast that you could go around the Earth seven times in just one second. For you to jump to the Moon, at the speed of light you could reach the Moon in about one second.

I'm guessing block means area and the speed of light is similar to a policeman in that both don't allow law to be broken: Light doesn't allow anything to travel faster, and a policeman doesn't allow anyone to break the law.


texts: What is the difference between "a portion of food" and "a helping of food"?

texts: What is the difference between "a portion of food" and "a helping of food" ?


texts: What is the role of "the" in "She does homework in the evening"?

texts:
This is from an English textbook for children (private pdf file, so I cannot share the link).

  A: What does Carley do in the evening?

  B: She does homework in the evening.

What is the role of "the" in "She does homework in the evening."?

When we mention "the evening", we're talking about a specific evening. However, that sentence is about something that happens repeatedly.

Does it mean "She does homework in the evening (the evening that she has homework)." and people just omit "that she has homework"?

What is the difference in meaning between

"She does homework in the evening."
"She does homework in evenings."?


texts:
Two guards stepped out of the elevator. Another two/Two more stepped out of the stairwell. And together the four of them moved down the hall.

Can either "another two" and "two more" be used here?


texts:
I have read that "it" is not used to refer to human, but I encountered the following within a grammar textbook without any explanation:

There's someone at the door. Can you go and see who it is?

Is it grammatically correct to use "it" to refer to people?


texts:
She said, "I'd like to see it again."

I changed its speech into:

  She said she wanted to see it again.

Is this a correct change in speech?

Why or why not?


texts: Is the question "what lies behind your thinking?" a valid and natural phrase when I want to ask why someone has a particular opinion on something?

texts:
Is the question what lies behind your thinking a valid and natural phrase when I want to ask why someone has a particular opinion on something or caused them to think in a particular way? For example:

  You said that the team is going to lose. What lies behind your thinking?


texts: Is the sentence:"On seeing results, we are likely to gain experience.." grammatically correct?

texts:
I'm not really sure about the grammatical construction of the last sentence, because I know the grammar about using participle talking about sequences and that the main clause uses in past time. But is it possible to make the sentence like that one.

  ..Before doing something we try to learn and find out how the thing works. And then we put it on practice to see the results. On seeing results, we are likely to gain experience..


texts: Is this comparison construction coherent?

texts:
The longer, wider and higher trees might cause the higher number of animal population, the higher diversity index, and the more spreading distribution of foliage-roosting animals.

Is that comparison structure coherent?


texts: What is a finger tied with a knot or bow called?

texts:
What does this image represent?

I understand from context that it supposed to mean "remember" but I don't see why this icon is used for that.

Is there an idiom or saying that is connected to this image?


texts: Is the Past Perfect required in every case, where the action was competed before?

texts:
I know that in English we can sometimes "skip" the Present Perfect and use the Past Simple, like here:

  John has won the election. Appropriate sort of the next day of the election night, when the speaker can suppose this is new information to the audience

  John won the election. Appropriate in other cases (when this is not new information etc.)

  Have you heard me? A more formal way, the result is important (we want to emphasize it), looks like a superior is asking a subordinate etc.

  Did you hear me? A more informal way, when the result is not so relevant (we do not want to emphasize it) etc.

Now, the question is:

Do the same rules apply to the past perfect, is one forced to use the Past Perfect in every case, where the action was completed before the reference point?

For instance:

  People had had no tooth disease, until they started to eat sugar.

  People had no tooth disease, until they started to eat sugar.

  I saw the car taxing from the garage, luckily the driver had managed to start the engine

  I saw the car taxing from the garage, luckily the driver managed to start the engine

This question is highly related to that one, and the accepted answer there actually raised my doubts on the matter, because I have never heard that the Past Perfect can be "skipped".

Thank you very much.


texts:
Does the verb after the word like have to be in its present form? For example,

  Today, I feel like I was a bird.  (using past tense here for expressing the I am not really a bird)

or

  Today, I feel like I am a bird.

or

  Yesterday, I felt like I was a bird.

or

  Yesterday, I felt like I am a bird.

Which ones are correct?


texts:
I have a sentence,

  Here's a rundown on/of the activities of our ten biggest competitors.

The meaning of rundown is  'a detailed report' which I cannot interpret intuitively.

if the slang means 'supporting' I can discern easier as supporting somebody a bridge to rundown from a dilemma.

In Wikipedia, it explains in baseball which is difficult for non-native speakers without that sports in majority.

in Etymology Dictionary,

  in baseball, 1908, from verbal phrase, from run (v.) + down (adv.). Meaning "list of entries in a horse race and the odds" is from 1935; slang generalized sense of "summary, account, list of information or facts" is from 1945.

What's the story about the extending of slang 'rundown'


texts: What writing styles should I follow for my SOP(Statement of Purpose) to Graduate schools in The States.

texts:
I'm aware of these 4 writing styles

Expository Writing
Descriptive Writing
Persuasive Writing
Narrative Writing

I have about 2 years to improve and write proficiently. Is there a particular writing style which is better appreciated?


texts:
Dialogue:

Dwight: Oh hey, I've been to the amusement park that you referred to me last week. It was amazing!

Jim: You tell!

What does the response 'You tell!' means? The connotations of course.


texts: When is it acceptable to omit the subject "I"?

texts:
Have noticed that English speakers omit "I" when they are emailing or chatting:

  How are you doing?
  Am fine.

Also, this occurs often in daily/weekly reports. Have seen quite a few of them, written by nationals of all English-speaking countries:

  Was re-installing a workstation in a conference room;
  Discussed a quarterly report with X;
  Am on an expo in Chicago;

In many languages it is fine, if the subject is obvious or it's a self-reference.

Would like to know, is it grammatically correct in English? If so, where is the borderline?

There's a relevant topic at ELU, "Is it poor form to start too many sentences with I?", but it (1) discusses the opposite side of the question; (2) Suggests to write according to an intended audience or my own taste. This answer seems to be very good, but, being an ELL, am unable to re-write every sentence with a high style like "This opportunity is a good fit for..."

Since in a spoken language the syllable may be very short (which is yet another problem for an ELL), let me focus on a written language only.


texts:
His degree was hard earned.

  His degree was hardly earned.

Which is right?


texts: What do you call the series of digits "010101010" used by computers?

texts: I don't think it's a programming language. I don't think it's a language either, is it just called a binary sprawl? I am curious what it may be called. It may be called a low-level language, because in theory, the numbers get interpreted by the processor as instruction set which consists of commands, address and values, among other things.


texts: "solved in two different ways" or "solved by two different ways"?

texts:
I have two different methods to solve a problem, and I intend to specify this in a passive sentence by using the word verb.

  This problem can be solved in two different ways.

  This problem can be solved by two different ways.

Which one is more correct?

I think the second one is more conventional.


texts:
This is a sentence I saw on a TV program:

  One of the ways in which lizards differ from snakes is in having eye openings.

What I am confused about is why we use "in" before "having eye openings." Could we leave it out in this case?


texts:
Where do I place the qualification 'in part' in a sentence? For example, is it

'[something] happened, in part, due to [...]'; or
'[something] happened due, in part, to [...]'; or
'[something] happened due to, in part, [...]'?


texts:
I know it's OK to use will with a reflective pronoun:

I willed myself to remember her name.

He willed himself to work.

But is it possible to will not self? -

I willed him to work.

He willed her to remember his name.


texts: Isn't "fog" uncountable when referring to a weather phenomenon?

texts:
I came across an example sentence on Merriam Webster:

  a climate marked by heavy fogs

Isn't fog a noncount noun when used to refer to weather, according to the Cambridge Dictionary. The ODO and the Macmillan Dictionary also mention that it can be used in singular in constructions such as "a fog of dust". So is the plural usage in the Merriam Webster sentence grammatical?


texts:
I came across two similar instances of occupy that I don't really understand.

  The large industrial population of the town is occupied in the manufacture of lace, which extended hither from Nottingham; there are also railway carriage works. (Your Dictionary Sentence)

  a person or thing occupied in or designed for splitting something. (Google's definition of "splitter")

It seems occupied in both sentences mean employed, but I can't find any dictionaries that support this (checked MW and ODO). The closest usage I could find is to hold a position or a job, which is not the same. Intuitively, it would make sense that occupy could have usages related to occupation. But why can't I find it in the dictionaries?


texts: Regarding the meaning of 'was likely to be' in this context

texts:
A
  spectacular conclusion of one of the popular electric exhibitions of the
  time was likely to be the electrification of a boy suspended by many
  silk threads from the rafters; his hair stood on end and sparks could
  be drawn from the tip of his nose.

Does the sentence mean the most spectacular conclusion was in fact that of the electrification of the boy, or that the electrification of the boy was among the likeliest conclusions to happen at that time and it could have happened or not ?


texts: Help to understand “Just screaming ‘F***’ as loud as i can into the void,”

texts:
“Just screaming ‘F***’ as loud as i can into the void,” added another.

I see this sentence in this article. It seems to me that the sentence is missing a verb in the clause "i can into the void". Is it an idiom or saying? I can probably get a rough idea about what it means, but I don't think I fully understand it.


texts: "is" or "was," when we tell the time of something

texts:
Do we say "it is ×× years ago?"
If I'm trying to describe a cartoon, and there is a line that says "30 years ago" on one of pictures of this cartoon, should I say "it was 30 years ago" or "it is 30 years ago?"


texts: How do you describe the sound of an old computer?

texts: The kind in the 90s with a giant CRT monitors and noisy hard disks & fans. I think "buzz" and "hum" are not loud enough because nowadays laptops still hum when overheated. But I don't know a stronger word. Thanks for any help!


texts: How do I fit all this information into one single noun phrase?

texts:
I need to refer generically to people who meet the following criteria (and I need to include all the information in one single noun phrase):

they have at least part-time employment
they have permanent employment
they start their employment no later than 1 June 2021

Considering this, would any of the following work, and if so, which would be the better choice?

Anyone who 1 June 2021 has at least part-time permanent employment

Anyone who has at least part-time permanent employment as of 1 June 2021 at the latest

Anyone who has at least part-time permanent employment starting no later than 1 June 2021

Thank you!


texts: How can I understand "to which" in this sentence?

texts:
Metaphor : a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable

I don't know how to understand.
I tried to divide the sentence.
a figure of speech //in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action //to which it is not literally applicable

what is the usage and meaning of "in which"?
what is the meaning of "is applied to"?
what is the usage and meaning of "to which"??

I tried to find the answer trolling the internet. There are tons of information so it's really difficult to find proper information.

After reading answers and replies, I tried to make sentence.

There is a figure of speech.
A word or phrase is applied to an object or action in the figure of speech.
It is not literally applicable
to the object or action.

Is this right analysis? If so, what does "it" mean in the last sentence.


texts: Can you say “I savaged myself” or “She savaged herself” for something or someone?

texts:
Can you say “I savaged myself” or “He/She savaged himself/herself” for something or someone? For instance, someone was trying to prepare themselves for a contest or a competition, fiercely changing their appearance, behavior etc. and now they are not too happy about it. So is it O’K if this person would use a word “Savage” as a verb for a more dramatic effect (in an interview for example) and say that they savaged themselves for a chance to be on the show?
Thank you!


texts: The secondary meaning of the word cheerful

texts:
According to Oxford Learner's Dictionary(http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/cheerful), the secondary meaning of the word cheerful is:
giving you a feeling of happiness:

Examples:
1) a bright, cheerful restaurant.

2) walls painted in cheerful (= light and bright) colours.

3) a chatty, cheerful letter.

All these examples are about inanimate objects.
Can the meaning not be applied to a person?


texts: Using the words 'wrong' and 'amiss' in American English

texts:
In the sentences bellow, in my view the versions with the word 'amiss' sound incorrect or at least unidiomatic:

What’s wrong?

What’s amiss?

Is something wrong?

Is something amiss?

Is there something wrong?

Is there something amiss?

What’s wrong with the car today? → Nothing is wrong with the car.

What’s amiss with the car today? → Nothing is amiss with the car.

Something is wrong with my foot.

Something is amiss with my foot.


texts:
I have several stages in my program. For example:

  distribution

  correction

And it uses in context like:

  The next stage is distribution.

  The next stage is correction.

And one of the stages is "diff". But what is the -ion form for "diff" verb?


texts: Should I add a comma before "then" in the following examples (dependent/nonrestrictive clauses)?

texts:
A few examples:

  He gulped from his glass(,) then stroke and twisted it.

  He blinked at her for a few second(,) then smiled.

  She stared at his chest for a moment(,) then agreed with a nod.

As you can see, all of these sentences have a dependent clauses after "then" (they are not complete sentences). On the other hand, they sound like nonrestrictive clauses (they are not necessary for the first sentence).

So I'm confused ... should I add a comma before "then" or not?


texts:
Is it correct that somebody may imply many people or an organization as a whole?

Particularly, can I think that someone assumes only one person whereas somebody can be said about a group of persons as well?


texts: "using a derogatory language" or "using derogatory language"

texts:
By using a derogatory language, he really put them off.
By using derogatory language, he really put them off.

I think the first one is more natural.